J     I  , 


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JINGO!    JOAN  OF  ARC. 


THE 


ILLUSTRATED 

CHRISTIAN    MA1TYR0L0GY 

BEING    AN 
AUTHENTIC  AND  GENUINE  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL 

PERSECUTIONS  AGAINST  THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST, 

IN  DIFFERENT  PARTS  OF  THE  WORLD. 

BY 

PAGANS    AND    PAPISTS. 

COMPILED    FROM    THE     LATEST    SOURCES, 
BY  REV.  C.  SPARRY. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED   BY  LEARY  &   GETZ. 

NO.    138   NORTH   SECOND   STREET. 
18  54. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/illustratedchris1854spar 


INTRODUCTION 


T  is  the  design  of  this  work  to 
open  an  honest  page  of  the 
history  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
It  makes  no  attempt  to  con- 
ceal the  deformity,  or  excuse 
the  wrong  which  that  history 
discloses.  If  Romanism  is  worth  knowing 
at  all,  it  is  worth  knowing  as  it  is.  If  the 
voice  of  the  past  utters  any  lesson,  it  should 
be  fully  stated  and  fairly  learned.  The 
editor  does  not  possess,  and  therefore  has 
not  practised  upon,  that  false  liberality 
which  shrinks  from  calling  things  by  their 
right  names.  Truth  is  good  enough  and 
kind  enough  for  him ;  and  if  the  faithful 
recital  of  the  deeds  of  Rome  pain  the  ear 
and  shock  the  heart,  it  can  not  be  the  fault 
of  him  who  makes  it,  but  of  the  system 
whose  records  constitute  the  revolting  de- 
tails. We  desire  to  create  a  salutary  dread 
of  popery,  by  showing  how  naturally  and 
inevitably  it  leads  to  cruelty,  intolerance, 
and  superstition.  Such  has  always  been 
its  history,  and,  from  its  very  nature,  al- 
!  ways  will  be.  The  assumptions  and  prin- 
j  ciples  of  the  system  render  persecution 
;  unavoidable.  The  idea  that  the  church  is 
;  infallible,  and  that  there  can  be  no  salva- 
tion out  of  her,  almost  sanctifies  the  perse- 
cution of  what  she  esteems  heresy,  and 
turns  the  cruelties  and  bloodshed,  which 
may  be  requisite  to  suppress  it,  to  guard 
the  church  from  supposed  corruption,  into 
positive  virtue  and  benevolence.  Thus  the 
purest  and  most  compassionate,  under  the 
influence  of  the  system,  are  equally  liable 
to  practise  upon  the  revolting  principle,  as 
the  ambitious  or  the  cruel.  Our  design  is 
to   illustrate   this  truth   by  showing   that, 


through  all  the  periods  of  her  history,  per- 
secution has  been  the  doctrine  and  prac- 
tice of  the  church,  as  well  those  of  a  mild 
as  of  an  inhuman  temper ;  it  is  an  unalter- 
able and  essential  feature  of  popery,  which 
no  change  or  modification  can  destroy,  and 
no  circumstances  for  a  time  suppress.  We 
shall  be  happy  if  the  sad  and  mournful  tale 
we  have  to  tell  shall  produce  a  conviction 
of  this  truth. 

The  aspect  of  the  times  both  favor  and 
demand  a  general  and  thorough  discussion 
of  the  character  and  claims  of  popery.  It 
is  no  longer  a  question  of  speculation  or 
theory.  The  encroachments  which  popery 
has  made  upon  every  department  of  society, 
and  the  position  of  influence,  respectability, 
and  force,  which  it  is  fast  assuming,  render 
it  fearfully  practical.  It  has  become  the 
great  question  of  the  age,  and  whatever 
may  be  our  reluctance  to  enter  upon  it,  it 
can  no  longer  be  avoided.  At  such  a  time, 
it  is  the  belief  of  the  editor,  that  a  work, 
presenting  the  system  in  the  form  and  as- 
pect of  impartial  history,  will  be  both  ac- 
ceptable and  useful. 

The  work  is  a  diligent  and  laborious 
compilation  of  Christian  Martyrology,  from 
the  earliest  period  to  the  present  time. 
Access  has  been  had  to  a  great  variety  of 
materials,  and  the  editor's  aim  has  been  to 
select  and  present,  in  a  succinct  and  striking 
form,  the  principal  instances  of  persecution 
and  cruelty  practised  by  the  Romish  church. 
The  work  will  contain  many  facts  and  il- 
lustrations which  have  never  appeared  be- 
fore, and  will,  when  completed,  form  a 
complete  and  accurate  portraiture  of  Rome 
as  it  was  and  Rome  as  it  it.     Great  ex- 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

pense  and  care  have  been  incurred  to  em-  •>  and  its  encroachments,  the  editor  will  think 
bellish  it  with  engravings,  whicn  will  often  >  his  toil  well  expended, 
be  found  to  carry  as  striking  a  lesson,  and  >  In  the  following  pages,  we  have  aimed 
as  forcible  an  idea,  as  any  description  could  I  to  observe  a  spirit  of  candor,  and  have  not 
do.  It  is  the  result  of  much  labor  and  care,  >  recorded  a  single  word  too  highly  colored 
and  if  it  shall  accomplish  something  tow-  >  for  sober  truth.  We  have  aimed  to  give  a 
ard  making  known  the  great  mystery  of  >  faithful  history  of  wicked  acts — acts  which 
iniquity,  and  of  guarding  against  its  wiles  \  every  honest  papist  in  his  heart  condemns. 


Our  work's  begun  !  we'll  trace  through  each  sad  stage 

The  bloody  bigotry  of  every  age ; 

And  with  truth's  pencil  paint  to  all  mankind, 

How  superstition  clouds  the  human  mind ; 

While  popish  errors  mount  on  reason's  throne, 

And  war  with  all  opinions  but  their  own ; 

Then  common  sense,  and  charity,  and  truth, 

Without  regard  to  sex,  to  age,  or  youth, 

Are  sacrificed  at  prejudice's  shrine, 

While  pampered  priests  on  cruelties  refine.  ] 

What  instruments  by  bigot  zeal  are  used  ! 

How  grossly  human  nature  is  abused. 

The  rack,  exhausted  patience  to  control,  J 

The  ensanguined  dagger,  and  the  poisoned  bowl ; 

The  bloody  sword,  bestained  with  pious  gore  ; 

The  axe  with  martyrs'  crimson  covered  o'er ; 

The  boiling  caldron,  where  the  just  expired  ; 

The  flaming  pile,  by  popish  malice  fired ; 

The  bending  gibbet,  innocence  to  bear; 

The  red-hot  pincers,  harmless  flesh  to  tear ; 

The  precipice,  from  whence  the  victim's  thrown  ; 

The  famined  death,  immured  in  walls  of  stone; 

Fierce  bulls,  to  toss  the  object  into  air; 

Sharp  dogs  to  worry,  and  wild  beasts  to  tear ; 

The  dreadful  pits,  where  dangerous  serpents  lurk, 

To  finish  inhumanity's  great  work ; 

The  melted  draughts  of  lead,  the  thorny  croicn; 

The  stones  to  bruise,  the  rapid  stream  to  drown; 

The  slings  to  dislocate,  the  bloody  knife, 

That  by  incision  drains  the  sap  of  life; 

Slowyira  to  broil,  and  dry  pans  to  destroy; 

With  other  arts  that  popish  fiends  employ : 

All,  all  the  Romish  bigotry  disclose, 

And  bid  you  such  a  bloody  faith  oppose; 

A  faith  vindictive,  holding  endless  strife 

With  Liberty,  Compassion,  Truth,  and  Life. 


Hu, 


■a 


CONTENTS, 


Introduction page    5 

Persecutions  in  the  first  Ages  of  the  World 1  ] 

Life  of  Jesus  Christ,  with  his  Sufferings  and  Martyrdom ,      13 

Lives,  Sufferings,  and  Martyrdom,  of  the  Apostles 15 

The  First  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  Nero 19     ! 

The  Second  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  Domitian 23     $ 

The  Third  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 25     \ 

The  Fourth  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 27     > 

The  Fifth  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 34     I 

The  Sixth  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 36     ) 

The  Seventh  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 39     1 

The  Eighth  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 42     \ 

The  Ninth  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 47     ', 

The  Tenth  Primitive  Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Emperors 50     \ 

The  Persecutions  against  the  Christians  of  Persia 63     ! 

The  Persecutions  under  the  Arian  Heretics 65     \ 

The  Persecutions  under  Julian  the  Apostate 68     £ 

The  Persecutions  of  the  Christians  by  the  Goths,  etc , 74     \ 

The  Persecutions  under  the  Arian  Vandals 77     ; 

Persecutions  from  the  Sixth  to  the  Tenth  Centuries 80     : 

Persecutions  in  the  Eleventh  Century 89     \ 

Horrible  Massacre  in  France,  A.  D.  1572 94 

The  Siege  of  Sancerre 102     \ 

Persecutions  of  the  Waldenses,  in  the  Valleys  of  Piedmont 104     < 

Further  Persecutions  in  the  Valleys  of  Piedmont 1 13 

More  Persecutions  in  the  Valleys  of  Piedmont 115     ; 

Persecutions  in  Germany 117 

Persecutions  in  Lithuania 120     \ 

Persecutions  in  Poland — Destruction  of  the  City  of  Lesna 124     '■ 

Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Inquisition  in  Spain  and  Portugal • 127     j 

The  Inquisition  of  Spain  and  Portugal 141 

The  Lives  of  Doctor  iEgidio,  Doctor  Constantine,  Nicholas  Burton,  and  William  Gardener..   147 

The  Persecutions  in  Italy 153 

The  first  Persecutions  under  the  Papacy  in  Italy 154 

The  Persecutions  in  Calabria 156 

Individuals  martyred  in  different  parts  of  Italy 158 

The  Persecutions  of  the  Marquisate  of  Saluces 163 


i   8  CONTENTS. 

<     The  Persecutions  in  the  Valtoline , page  164 

s    A  Protestant  Minister  torn  in  Pieces  by  Dogs 165 

[     Persecutions  in  Bohemia 166 

'.    Persecutions  in  Bohemia,  after  the  High  Court  of  Reformers 173 

'.     General  Persecutions  in  Germany 174 

I    Persecutions  in  England  during  the  Reign  of  Henry  IV 176 

I    Hugh  Latimer,  Bishop  of  Worcester 181 

Nicholas  Ridley,  Bishop  of  London 187 

Thomas  Cranmer,  the  first  Protestant  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 190 

Persecutions  in  England  during  the  Reign  of  Queen  Mary 199 

Persecutions  in  Scotland  during  the  Reign  of  Henry  VIII 212 

The  Life,  Sufferings,  and  Martyrdom,  of  George  Wishart 220 

Persecutions  of  Protestants  in  Ireland — The  Irish  Massacre 229 

Popish  Cruelties  in  Mexico  and  South  America 242 

Judgments  of  God  on  Persecutors 250 


THE 


CHRISTIAN    IARTYROLOGY. 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  THE  FIRST  AGES  OF  THE  WORLD, 


MONG  primitive  persecu- 
tions of  an  individual  na- 
ture, we  may  reckon  that 
of  Abel,  who  was  per- 
secuted and  slain  by  his 
brother  Cain  ;  the  perse- 
cution of  the  righteous  Noah  by  the  ac- 
cursed Ham,  his  son  ;  the  persecution  of 
Lot  at  Sodom,  and  that  of  Joseph  by  his 
brethren. 

In  these  early  ages,  the  first  general  per- 
secutions may  be  deemed  that  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  by  Pharaoh.  This  tyrant 
not  only  afflicted  both  sexes  of  all  ages,  by 
means  of  the  most  cruel  task-masters,  but 
even  ordered  the  new  born  infants  of  the 
Hebrew  women  to  be  murdered.  He  was, 
however,  punished  for  his  persecutions ; 
first  by  ten  dreadful  plagues,  and  afterward 
by  being  swallowed  up  in  the  Red  sea, 
with  all  his  host. 

The  children  of  Israel,  after  being  freed 

<  from    bondage,     were    successively    per- 

<  secuted  by  the  Philistines,  Ammonites, 
\  Egyptians,  Ethiopians,  Arabians,  and  As- 
\  Syrians ;  and  many  of  the   prophets   and 

<  chosen  of  God  were  persecuted  by  several 
|  of  the  kings  of  Judah  and  Israel. 

]       The  three  righteous  children  were  thrown 

<  into  the  fiery  furnace  by  Nebuchadnezzar ; 

<  Daniel  was  cast  into  the  lion's  den  by  order 
\  of  Darius  ;  and  Mordecai  was  persecuted 

<  by  the  malicious  Haman  :  but  these  were  ; 


all  respectively  saved  by  the  Almighty, 
and  their  persecutors  punished  for  their 
perfidy. 

The  Jews  were  persecuted  by  the  neigh- 
boring idolaters  during  the  time  of  their 
building  and  fortifying  Jerusalem,  till  that 
great  work  was  finished  by  the  care  of 
Nehemiah ;  but  after  its  completion  they 
were  frequently  disturbed  by  the  Persians, 
and  the  successors  of  Alexander  the  Great, 
though  that  monarch  himself  had  granted 
the  most  unlimited  favors. 

But  a  little  more  than  a  century  and  a 
half  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  Antiochus 
seized  upon  and  sacked  the  city  of  Jerusa- 
lem, plundered  the  temple,  and  murdered 
many  of  the  Jews  who  refused  to  conform 
to  his  idolatry,  by  scourging,  strangling, 
crucifying,  and  stifling  them,  and  by  closing 
up  the  mouths  of  the  caves  to  which  they 
fled  for  shelter. 

Antiochus  and  his  idolatrous  tormentors  '■■ 
were,  however,  at  length  bravely  opposed  \ 
by  Matthias,  a  priest,  and  his  valiant  sons,  \ 
the  principal  of  whom  was  Judas  Macca-  \ 
beus.  This  able  commander,  Judas,  with  \ 
his  brave  brothers,  inspired  the  dispirited  j 
Jews  with  new  courage,  defeated  the  gene-  \ 
rals  of  Antiochus,  freed  their  country  from  \ 
bondage,  and  afterward  turned  their  arms 
against  the  Edomites  and  Ammonites,  over 
whom  they  were  equally  successful. 

At  length  Antiochus  died  a  terrible  death, 


12 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


his  flesh  having  been  for  some  time  before 
quite  putrid,  and  producing  maggots,  so 
that  he  became  loathsome  to  himself,  and 
nauseous  to  all  about  him.  His  succes- 
sors, however,  continued  their  enmity  to 
the  Jews ;  but  they  were  opposed,  with 
various  success,  by  the  Maccabees. 

The  Jews  now  entered  into  a  treaty 
offensive  and  defensive  with  the  Romans  ; 
but  soon  after  lost  their  worthy  champion, 
Judas  Maccabeus,  who  was  slain  in  a  bloody 
battle  fought  with  the  Greeks,  under  the 
command  of  their  general,  Bacchides. 

Antiochus  Epiphanes,  now  reigning  in 
Syria,  and  having  some  success  against  the 
Jews,  went  to  Jerusalem,  where  he  ordered 
Eleazer  the  priest  to  be  put  to  death  in  the 
most  cruel  manner,  for  refusing  to  eat 
swine's  flesh.  Then  seizing  on  a  family 
of  Maccabees,  consisting  of  a  matron  named 
Salamona,  and  her  seven  sons,  he  carried 
them  all  to  Antioch.  Here  he  would  fain 
have  persuaded  them  to  embrace  his  idol- 
atry, which  they  nobly  and  unanimously 
refusing,  he  ordered  them  all  to  be  put  to 
death. 

Maccabeus,  the  eldest,  was  accordingly 
stripped,  stretched  on  the  rack,  and  severely 
beaten.  He  was  next  fastened  to  a  wheel, 
and  weights  hung  to  his  feet  till  his  sinews 
cracked.  Afterward  his  tormenters  threw 
him  into  a  fire  till  he  was  dreadfully  scorch- 
ed ;  then  they  drew  him  out,  cut  out  his 
tongue,  and  put  him  into  a  frying-pan,  with 
a  slow  fire  under  it,  till  he  died.  As  long 
as  he  had  life,  and  power  of  expression, 
under  these  exquisite  torments,  he  fervently 
called  upon  God,  and  exhorted  his  brothers 
to  a  similar  perseverance. 

After  the  second  son  had  his  hands  fast- 
ened with  chains,  with  which  he  was  hung 
up,  his  skin  was  flayed  off  from  the  crown 
of  his  head  to   his  knees,     lie  was  then 


cast  to  a  leopard,  but  the  beast  refusing  to 
touch  him,  he  was  suffered  to  languish  till 
he  expired  with  the  excruciating  pain  and 
loss  of  blood. 

Machir,  the  third  son,  was  bound  to  a 
globe  till  his  bones  were  all  dislocated ; 
his  head  and  face  were  then  flayed,  his 
tongue  cut  out,  and  being  cast  into  a  pan 
he  was  fried  to  death. 

Judas,  the  fourth  son,  after  having  his 
tongue  cut  out,  was  beat  with  ropes,  and 
then  racked  upon  a  wheel. 

Achas,  the  fifth  son,  was  pounded  in  a 
large  brazen  mortar. 

Aieth,  the  sixth  son,  was  fastened  to  a 

pillar   with   his    head    downward,   slowly 

roasted  by  a  fire  kindled  at  some  distance  ; 

]  his   tongue  was  then  cut  out,  and  he  was 

lastly  fried  in  a  pan. 

Jacob,  the  seventh  and  youngest  son, 
had  his  arms  cut  off,  his  tongue  plucked 
out,  and  was  then  fried  to  death. 

They  all  bore  their  fate  with  the  same 
intrepidity  as  their  elder  brother,  and  called 
upon  the  Almighty  to  receive  them  into 
heaven. 

Salamona,  the  mother,  after  having  in  a 
manner  died  seven  deaths  in  beholding  the 
martyrdom  of  her  children,  was,  by  the 
tyrant's  order,  stripped  naked,  severely 
scourged,  her  breasts  cut  off,  and  her  body 
fried  till  she  expired. 

The  tyrant  who  inflicted  these  cruelties 
was  afterward  struck  with  madness  ;  and 
then  his  flesh  became  corrupted,  and  his 
bowels  mortified,  which  put  an  end  to  his 
wicked  life. 


"  Thus  the  afflicted  innocent  expire, 
Calm  in  their  sufferings,  cheerful  in  the  fire  ; 
Expecting,  for  a  momentary  pain, 
Eternal  joys,  and  everlasting  gain. 
While  the  the  tyrannic  and  the  wicked  find, 
A  tortured  body,  and  tormented  mind  ; 
And  when  their  vile  atrocious  lives  they  closp, 
A  hell  of  horrors,  and  eternal  woes." 


s 


THE  CHRISTIAN  HARTYROLOGY. 


13 


THE  LIFE  OF  JESUS  CHRIST,  WITH  HIS  SUFFERINGS  AND  MARTYRDOM. 


AVING  briefly  brought 
down  accounts  of  the 
earliest  persecutions, 
from  the  remotest  pe- 
riods to  the  time  of  our 
Savior's  birth,  we  shall 
now  enter  into  the  most  important  point  of 
human  and  divine  history.  But  it  is  neces- 
sary, ere  we  engage  in  delineating  the 
birth,  actions,  sufferings  and  death  Of  the 
Redeemer  of  the  World,  to  mention 
some  circumstances,  which  are  either  in- 
troductory to  our  subject,  or  should  be  pre- 
liminary to  it,  in  order  not  to  break  in  upon 
the  uniformity  of  the  narrative. 

Herod  the  Great  being  informed  that  a 
king  of  the  Jews  should  be  born  in  Bethle- 
hem, sent  a  number  of  troops  to  destroy  all 
the  children  under  two  years  of  age,  in 
that  place,  and  throughout  the  neighboring 
coast.  By  this  cruel  order  he  hoped  to 
have  destroyed  the  child  Jesus  ;  but  in  this 
he  was  not  only  disappointed,  but  punished 
with  such  a  spirit  of  lunacy,  that  he  slew 
his  own  wife,  children,  relations,  friends, 
&c.  He  was  afterward  visited  by  the 
most  grievous  maladies,  particularly  an  in- 
ward burning,  slow,  but  unremitting  ;  an 
uncommon  appetite,  continually  craving, 
but  ever  unsatisfied  ;  a  cramp  that  racked 
him  with  pain  ;  a  flux  that  reduced  him  to 
weakness  ;  worms  that  bred  in  him  and 
gnawed  him  ;  vermin  that  engendered 
about  him  and  devoured  him  ;  a  general 
putrefaction  that  consumed  him  ;  and  in 
fine,  all  those  complicated  disorders  which 
could  possibly  render  him  hateful  to  him- 
self, and  odious  to  others.  His  torments 
at  length  became  so  intolerable,  that  not 
having  either  the  comforts  of  religion  or 
the  support  of  a  good  conscience  to  sus- 
tain his  sinking  spirits,  he  attempted  to  lay 
violent  hands  upon  himself.  Being  pre- 
vented in  this  attempt  by  those  about  him, 


he  at  last  sunk  under  the  oppression  of  his 
afflictions,  and  expired  in  the  most  miser- 
able manner. 

Herod  the  Less  having  married  the 
daughter  of  the  king  of  Arabia,  repudiated 
her,  and  espoused  Herodias,  his  brother 
Philip's  wife  ;  for  which  marriage,  full  of 
incest  and  adultery,  John  the  Baptist  boldly 
and  severely  reproved  him.  This  freedom 
greatly  incensed  Herodias,  for  we  are  in- 
formed by  St.  Matthew,  in  the  xivth  chap- 
ter of  his  gospel,  that  "  When  Herod's 
birthday  was  kept,  the  daughter  of  Herodias 
danced  before  them,  and  pleased  Herod : 
whereupon  he  promised,  with  an  oath,  to  give 
her  whatsoever  she  would  ask.  And  she, 
being  before  instructed  of  her  mother,  said, 
Give  me  here  John  Baptist's  head  in  a  char- 
ger. And  the  king  was  sorry ;  nevertheless, 
for  the  oath's  sake,  and  them  which  sat  with 
him  at  meat,  he  commanded  it  to  be  given 
her.  And  he  sent  and  beheaded  John  in  the 
prison.  And  his  head  was  brought  in  a 
charger  and  given  to  the  damsel :  and  she 
brought  it  to  her  mother."  The  authors  of 
this  cruelty  were,  however,  all  severely 
punished  ;  for  the  daughter  of  Herodias 
being  afterward  dancing  upon  the  ice,  it 
broke,  and  she  falling  in,  had  her  head  sev- 
ered from  her  body  by  its  again  closing  ;  and 
Herod,  and  the  incestuous  adulteress  He- 
rodiaSj  falling  under  the  displeasure  of  the 
Roman  emperor,  were  banished,  and  died 
miserably  in  exile.  This  martyr's  nativity 
happened  on  the  24th  of  June. 

But  to  proceed  to  the  history  of  our 
blessed  Redeemer.  In  the  reign  of  Herod 
the  Great  already  mentioned,  the  angel 
Gabriel  was  sent  by  the  Almighty  to  a 
holy  virgin,  called  Mary.  This  maiden 
was  betrothed  to  a  carpenter,  named  Jo- 
seph, who  resided  at  Nazareth,  a  city  of 
Galilee,  but  the  consummation  had  not 
then  taken  place  ;  for  it  was  the  custom  of 


14 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


the  eastern  nations  to  contract  persons  of 
each  sex  from  their  childhood. 

The  angel  informed  Mary  how  highly 
she  was  favored  of  God,  and  that  she 
should  conceive  a  son  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
which  happened  accordingly ;  for  travel- 
ling to  Bethlehem  to  pay  the  capitation-tax 
then  levied,  the  town  was  so  crowded  that 
they  could  only  get  lodgings  in  a  stable, 
where  the  holy  virgin  brought  forth  our 
blessed  Redeemer,  which  was  announced 
to  the  world  by  a  star  and  an  angel :  the 
wise  men  of  the  east  saw  the  first,  and  the 
shepherds  the  latter.  After  Jesus  had  been 
circumcised,  he  was  presented  in  the  tem- 
ple by  the  holy  virgin  ;  upon  which  occa- 
sion Simeon  broke  out  into  the  celebrated 
words  :  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant 
depart  in  peace  according  to  thy  word,  for  \ 
mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation." — Luke 
ii.  29,  30. 

Jesus,  in  his  youth,  disputed  with  the 
most  learned  doctors  in  the  temple,  and 
soon  after  was  baptized  at  the  river  Jordan 
by  John,  when  the  Holy  Ghost  descended 
upon  him  in  the  form  of  a  dove,  and  a 
voice  was  heard  audibly  to  pronounce  these 
words :  "  This  is  my  beloved  son,  in  whom 
I  am  well  pleased." 

Christ  afterward  fasted  forty  days  and 
nights  in  the  wilderness,  when  he  was 
tempted  by  the  devil,  but  resisted  all  his 
allurements.  He  then  performed  his  first 
miracle  at  Cana,  in  Galilee ;  he  likewise 
conversed  with  the  good  Samaritan,  and 
restored  to  life  a  nobleman's  dead  child. 
Travelling  through  Galilee  he  restored  the 
blind  to  sight,  cured  the  lame,  the  lepers, 
&c 

Among  other  benevolent  actions,  at  the 
pool  of  Bethesda  he  cured  a  paralytic  man 
who  had  been  lame  thirty-eight  years,  bid- 
ding him  take  up  his  bed  and  walk ;  and  he 
afterward  cured  a  man  whose  right  hand 
was  shrunk  up  and  withered.  Having 
chosen  his  twelve  apostles,  he  preached 
the  celebrated  sermon  upon  the  Mount 
after  which  he  performed  several  miracles, 
particularly  the  feeding  of  the  multitude, 


and   the  walking  on  the  surface   of  the 
water. 

At  the  time  of  the  passover  Jesus  sup-  \ 
ped  with  his  disciples ;  informed  them 
that  one  of  them  would  betray  him  and 
another  deny  him,  and  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon.  Soon  after,  a  multitude  of 
armed  men  surrounded  him,  and  Judas 
kissed  him,  in  order  to  point  him  out  to 
the  soldiers  who  did  not  know  him  person- 
ally. In  the  scuffle  occasioned  by  the  ap- 
prehending of  Jesus,  Peter  cut  off  the  ear 
of  Malchus,  the  servant  of  the  high-priest, 
for  which  Jesus  reproved  him,  and  healed 
the  wound  by  touching  it.  Peter  and  John 
followed  Jesus  to  the  house  of  Annas, 
who,  refusing  to  judge  him,  sent  him  bound 
to  Caiaphas,  where  Peter  denied  Christ,  as 
the  latter  had  predicted  ;  but  on  Christ's 
reminding  him  of  his  perfidy,  Peter  went 
out  and  wept  bitterly. 

When  the  council  assembled  in  the 
morning,  the  Jews  mocked  Jesus,  and  the 
elders  suborned  false  witnesses  against 
him  ;  the  principal  accusation  against  him 
being,  that  he  had  said,  "  /  will  destroy 
this  temple  that  is  made  with  hands,  and 
within  three  days  I  will  build  another,  made 
without  hands." — Mark  xiv.  58.  Caiaphas 
then  asked  him  if  he  was  Christ,  the  son 
of  God,  or  no ;  being  answered  in  the  af- 
firmative, he  was  accused  of  blasphemy, 
and  condemned  to  death  by  Pontius  Pilate, 
the  Roman  governor,  who,  though  con- 
scious of  his  innocence,  yielded  to  the  so- 
licitation of  the  Jews,  and  condemned  him 
to  be  crucified. 

Previous  to  the  crucifixion,  the  Jews, 
by  way  of  derision,  clothed  Christ  in  a 
regal  robe,  put  a  crown  of  thorns  upon  his 
head?  and  a  reed,  for  a  sceptre,  in  his 
hand ;  they  then  mocked  him,  with  ironi- 
cal compliments,  spit  in  his  face,  slapped 
his  cheeks,  and  taking  the  reed  out  of  his 
hand,  they  struck  him  with  it  upon  the 
head.  Pilate  would  fain  have  released 
him,  but  the  general  cry  was  "  Crucify 
him!  crucify  him !"  which  occasioned  the 
governor  to  call  for  a  basin  of  water,  and 


m- 


■« 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


15 


having  washed  his  hands,  he  declared  him- 
self innocent  of  the  blood  of  Christ,  whom 
he  justly  termed  a  just  person.  The  Jews, 
however  said,  "  Let  his  blood  be  upon  us 
and  our  children  ;"  which  wish  has  mani- 
festly taken  place,  as  they  have  never  since 
been  a  collected  people. 

In  leading  Christ  to  the  place  of  cruci- 
fixion, they  obliged  him  to  bear  the  cross, 
which  he  being  unable  to  sustain,  they ; 
compelled  one  Simon,  a  native  of  Cyrenia, 
to  carry  the  cross  the  rest  of  the  way. ; 
Mount  Calvary  was  the  place  of  execution, 
where  being  arrived,  the  soldiers  offered 
him  a  mixture  of  gall  and  vinegar  to  drink, 
which  he  refused.  Having  stripped  him, 
they  nailed  him  to  the  cross,  and  crucified 
him  between  two  malefactors.  After  being ; 
fastened  to  the  cross,  he  uttered  this  benev- 
olent prayer  for  his  enemies,  "  Father,  for- 
give them,  for  they  know  not  what  they; 
do."  The  soldiers  who  crucified  him 
being  four  in  number,  now  cut  his  mantle 
to  pieces,  and  divided  it  between  them ; 
but  his  coat  being  without  seam,  they  cast 
lots  for  it.  While  Christ  remained  in  the 
agonies  of  death,  the  Jews  mocked  him 
and  said,  "  If  thou  art  the  Son  of  God, 
come  down  from  the  cross."     The  chief 


priests  and  scribes  also  reviled  him,  and 
said,  "He  saved  others,  but  can  not  save 
himself."  Indeed,  one  of  the  malefactois 
who  was  crucified  with  him,  cried  out  and 
said,  "  If  you  are  the  Messiah,  save  your- 
self and  us ;"  but  the  other  malefactor, 
having  the  greatest  reliance  upon  Jesus, 
exclaimed,  "  Lord,  remember  me  when 
thou  comest  into  thy  kingdom."  To  which 
Christ  replied,  "  This  day  thou  shalt  be 
with  me  in  Paradise." 

While  Christ  was  upon  the  cross,  the 
earth  was  covered  with  darkness,  and  the 
stars  appeared  at  noonday,  which  struck 
even  the  Jews  with  terror.  In  the  midst 
of  his  tortures,  Christ  cried  out,  "  My  God, 
my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  !"  and 
then  expressed  a  desire  to  drink,  when  one 
of  the  soldiers  gave  him,  upon  the  point 
of  a  reed,  a  sponge  dipped  in  vinegar, 
which,  however,  Jesus  refused.  About 
three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  he  gave  up 
the  ghost,  and  at  the  same  time  a  violent 
earthquake  happened,  when  the  rocks  were 
rent,  the  mountains  trembled,  and  the 
graves  gave  up  their  dead.  These  were 
the  signal  prodigies  that  attended  the  death 
of  Christ,  and  such  was  the  mortal  end  of 
the  Redeemer  of  mankind. 


OF  THE  LIVES,  SUFFERINGS,  AND  MARTYRDOM  OF  THE  APOSTLES,  ETC, 


AINT  STEPHEN,  the  pro- 
to  or  first  martyr,  was  elect- 
ed, with  six  others,  as  a  dea- 
con, out  of  the  Lord's  sev- 
enty disciples.  Stephen 
was  an  able  and  successful 
preacher.  The  principal  persons  belong- 
ing to  five  Jewish  synagogues  entered  into 
many  altercations  with  him ;  but  he,  by 
the  soundness  of  his  doctrine,  and  the 
strength  of  his  arguments,  overcame  them 
all,  which  so  much  irritated  them,  that  they 
suborned  false  witnesses  to  accuse  him  of 


blaspheming  God  and  Moses.  Being  car- 
ried before  the  council,  he  made  a  noble 
defence,  but  that  so  much  exasperated  his 
judges,  that  they  resolved  to  condemn  him. 
At  this  instant  Stephen  saw  a  vision  from 
heaven,  of  Jesus,  in  his  glorified  state,  sit- 
ting at  the  right  hand  of  God.  This  vision 
so  greatly  rejoiced  him,  that  he  exclaimed 
in  raptures,  "Behold,  I  see  the  heavens 
opened,  and  the  Son  of  man  standing  on 
the  right  hand  of  God."  They  then  con- 
demned him,  and  having  dragged  him  out 
of  the  city,  stoned  him  to  death.     On  the 


M 


16 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


spot  where  he  was  martyred,  Eudocia,  the 
empress  of  the  emperor  Theodosius,  erect- 
ed a  superb  church. 

The  death  of  Stephen  was  succeeded 
by  a  severe  persecution  in  Jerusalem,  in 
which  2,000  Christians,  with  Nicar  the 
deacon,  were  martyred  ;  and  many  others 
obliged  to  leave  the  place. 

ST.  JAMES  THE  GREAT,  a  Gali- 
lean, was  the  son  of  Zebedee,  a  fisherman, 
the  elder  brother  of  St.  John,  and  a  rela- 
tion to  Christ  himself ;  for  his  mother  Sa- 
lome was  cousin-german  to  the  Virgin 
Mary.  Being  one  day  with  his  father, 
fishing  in  the  sea  of  Galilee,  he,  and  his 
brother  John  were  called  by  our  Savior  to 
become  his  disciples.  They  cheerfully 
obeyed  the  mandate,  and  leaving  their  fa- 
ther, followed  Jesus.  It  is  to  be  observed, 
that  Christ  placed  a  greater  confidence  in 
them  than  in  any  other  of  the  apostles, 
Peter  excepted. 

Christ  called  these  brothers  Boanerges, 
or  the  sons  of  thunder,  on  account  of  their 
fiery  spirits  and  impetuous  tempers. 

Herod  Agrippa,  being  made  governor  of 
Judea  by  the  emperor  Caligula,  raised  a 
persecution  against  the  Christians,  and 
particularly  singled  out  James  as  an  object 
of  revenge. 

James,  being  condemned  to  death,  show- 
ed such  an  intrepidity  of  spirit,  and  con- 
stancy of  mind,  that  his  very  accuser  was 
struck  with  admiration,  and  became  a  con- 
vert to  Christianity.  This  transition  so 
enraged  the  people  in  power,  that  they 
likewise  condemned  him  to  death;  when 
James  the  apostle,  and  his  penitent  accu- 
ser, were  both  beheaded  on  the  same  day, 
and  with  the  same  sword.  These  events 
took  place  in  the  year  of  Christ  44  ;  and 
the  25th  of  July  was  fixed  by  the  church  for 
the  commemoration  of  this  saint's  martyr- 
dom. 

Much  about  the  same  period,  Timon 
and  Parmenas,  two  of  the  seven  deacons, 
suffered  martyrdom ;  the  former  at  Cor- 
inth, and  the  latter  at  Philippi,  in  Mace- 
donia. 


ST.  PHILIP.  This  apostle  and  martyr 
was  born  at  Bethsaida,  in  Galilee,  and  was 
the  first  called  by  the  name  of  disciple. 
He  was  honored  with  several  important 
commissions  by  Christ,  and  being  deputed 
to  preach  in  Upper  Asia,  labored  very  dil- 
igently in  his  apostleship.  He  then  trav- 
elled into  Phrygia,  and  arriving  at  Heli- 
opolis,  was  greatly  grieved  to  find  the  in- 
habitants so  sunk  in  idolatry  as  to  worship 
a  large  serpent.  St.  Philip,  however,  con- 
verted many  of  them  to  Christianity,  and 
even  procured  the  death  of  the  serpent. 
This  so  enraged  the  magistrates,  that  they 
committed  him  to  prison,  had  him  severely 
scourged,  and  afterward  crucified.  His 
friend,  St.  Bartholemew,  found  an  oppor- 
tunity of  taking  down  the  body  and  bury- 
ing it ;  for  which,  however,  he  was  very 
near  suffering  the  same  fate.  His  martyr- 
dom happened  eight  years  after  that  of  St. 
James  the  Great,  A.  D.  52  ;  and  his  name, 
together  with  that  of  St.  James  the  Less, 
is  commemorated  on  the  1st  of  May. 

ST.  MATTHEW.  This  evangelist, 
apostle,  and  martyr,  was  born  at  Nazareth 
in  Galilee,  but  resided  chiefly  at  Caper- 
naum, on  account  of  his  business,  which 
was  that  of  a  toll-gatherer,  to  collect  trib- 
ute of  such  as  had  occasion  to  pass  the 
sea  of  Galilee.  On  being  called  as  a  dis- 
ciple, he  immediately  complied,  and  left 
everything  to  follow  Christ.  After  the  as- 
cension of  his  master,  he  continued  preach- 
ing the  gospel  in  Judea  about  nine  years. 
Designing  to  leave  Judea,  in  order  to  go 
and  preach  among  the  Gentiles,  he  wrote 
his  gospel  in  Hebrew,  for  the  use  of  the 
Jewish  converts,  but  it  was  afterward  trans- 
lated into  Greek  by  St.  James  the  Less. 
Going  to  Ethiopia,  he  ordained  preachers, 
settled  churches,  and  made  many  converts 
He  then  proceeded  to  Parthia,  where  he 
had  the  same  success ;  but  returning  to 
Ethiopia,  he  was  slain  by  a  halberd  in  the 
city  of  Nadabar,  about  the  year  of  Chris' 
60  ;  and  his  festival  is  kept  by  the  church 
on  the  21st  day  of  September.  He  wa? 
remarkably  inoffensive  in  his  conduct,  and 


THE  CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


17    < 


|  temperate  in  his  mode  of  living.  Hence 
I  we  may  say, 

Well  might  this  great  apostle  mend  the  age, 
Whose  life  was  but  a  comment  on  his  page. 

j  ST.  MARK.     This  evangelist  and  mar- 

|  tyr  was   born  of  Jewish  parents,  of  the 

<  tribe  of  Levi.  It  is  imagined  that  he  was 
\  converted  to  Christianity  by  St.  Peter, 
\  whom  he  served  as  an  amanuensis,  and 
I  whom  he  attended  in  all  his  travels.  Be- 
l  ing  entreated  by  the  converts  at  Rome  to 
I  commit  to  writing  the  admirable  discourses 
s  they  had  heard  from  St.  Peter  and  him- 

<  self,  this  request  he  complied  with,  and 
5  composed   his  gospel  accordingly,  in  the 

Greek  language.  He  then  went  to  Egypt, 
and  constituted  a  bishopric  at  Alexandria  ; 
afterward  he  proceeded  to  Lybia,  where  he 
made  many  converts.  Returning  to  Alex- 
andria, some  of  the  Egyptians,  exasperated 
at  his  success,  determined  on  his  death. 
To  accomplish  this  they  tied  his  feet, 
dragged  him  through  the  streets,  left  him 
to  remain,  bruised  as  he  was,  in  a  dungeon 
all  night,  and  the  next  day  burnt  his  body. 
This  happened  on  the  25th  of  April,  on 
which  day  the  church  commemorates  his 
martyrdom.  His  bones  were  carefully 
gathered  up  by  the  Christians,  decently 
interred,  and  afterward  removed  to  Venice, 
where  he  is  considered  as  the  titular  saint, 
and  pafron  of  the  state. 

ST.  JAMES  THE  LESS.  This  apostle 
and  martyr  was  called  so  to  distinguish 
him  from  St.  James  the   Great.     He  was 
the  son,  by  a  first  wife,  of  Joseph,  the  re- 
puted father  of  Christ.     He  was,  after  the 
Lord's  ascension,  elected  bishop  of  Jeru- 
salem.    He  wrote  his  general  epistle  to  all 
Christians,  and  converts  whatever,  to  sup- 
\  press  a  dangerous  error  then  propagating, 
|  viz. :    that    "  a  faith  in  Christ  was  alone 
',  sufficient     for     salvation,     without     good 
\  works."     The   Jews   being,  at  this   time, 
<i  greatly  enraged  that  St.  Paul  had  escaped 
|  their  fury,  by  appealing  to  Rome,   deter- 
l  mined  to  wreak  their  vengeance  on  James, 

<  who  was  now  ninety-four  years  of  age. 
|  They  accordingly  threw  him  down,  beat, 


bruised,  and  stoned  him  ,  and  then  dashed 
out  his  brains  with  a  club,  such  as  was  used 
by  fullers  in  dressing  cloths.  His  festival, 
together  with  that  of  St.  Philip,  is  kept  on 
the  first  of  May. 

ST.  MATTHIAS.  This  apostle  and 
martyr  was  called  to  the  apostleship  after 
the  death  of  Christ,  to  supply  the  vacant 
place  of  Judas,  who  had  betrayed  his  mas- 
ter, and  was  likewise  one  of  the  seventy 
disciples.  He  was  martyred  at  Jerusalem, 
being  first  stoned,  and  then  beheaded ;  and 
the  24th  of  February  is  observed  for  the 
celebration  of  his  festival. 

ST.  ANDREW.  This  apostle  and  mar- 
tyr was  the  brother  of  St.  Peter,  and 
preached  the  gospel  to  many  Asiatic  na- 
tions. Arriving  at  Edessa,  the  governor 
of  the  country,  named  Egeas,  threatened 
him  very  hard  for  preaching  against  the 
idols  there  worshipped.  St.  Andrew  per- 
sisting in  the  propagation  of  his  doctrines, 
he  was  ordered  to  be  crucified  on  a  cross, 
two  ends  of  which  were  transversely  fixed 
in  the  ground.  He  boldly  told  his  accu- 
sers, that  he  would  not  have  preached  the 
glory  of  the  cross,  had  he  feared  to  die  on 
it.  And  again,  when  they  came  to  crucify 
him,  he  said  that  he  coveted  the  cross,  and 
longed  to  embrace  it.  He  was  fastened 
to  the  cross,  not  with  nails  but  cords,  that 
his  death  might  be  more  lingering.  In  this 
situation  he  continued  two  days,  preaching 
the  greatest  part  of  the  time  to  the  people, 
and  expired  on  the  30th  of  November, 
which  is  commemorated  as  his  festival. 

ST.  PETER.  This  great  apostle  and 
martyr  was  born  at  Bethsaida  in  Galilee, 
being  the  son  of  Jonah,  a  fisherman,  which 
employment  St.  Peter  himself  followed. 
He  was  persuaded  by  his  brother  to  turn 
Christian,  when  Christ  gave  him  the  name 
of  Cephas,  implying,  in  the  Syriac  lan- 
guage, a  rock.  He  was  called,  at  the 
same  time  as  his  brother,  to  be  an  apostle ; 
gave  uncommon  proofs  of  his  zeal  for  the 
service  of  Christ,  and  always  appeared  as 
the  principal  speaker  among  the  apostles. 
He  had,  however,  the  weakness  to  deny 


18 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


his  master,  after  his  apprehension,  though 
he  defended  him  at  the  time  ;  but  the  sin- 
cerity of  his  repentance  made  an  atone- 
ment for  the  atrociousness  of  his  crime. 

The  Jews,  after  the  death  of  Christ,  still 
continued  to  persecute  the  Christians,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  order  several  of  the 
apostles,  among  whom  was  Peter,  to  be 
scourged.  This  punishment  they  bore  with 
the  greatest  fortitude,  and  rejoiced  that 
they  were  thought  worthy  to  suffer  for  the 
sake  of  Christ. 

Herod  Agrippa  having  caused  St.  James 
the  Great  to  be  put  to  death,  and  finding 
that  it  pleased  the  Jews,  resolved,  in  order 
to  ingratiate  himself  farther  with  the  peo- 
ple, that  Peter  should  fall  the  next  sacri- 
fice to  his  malice.  He  was  accordingly 
apprehended,  and  thrown  into  prison  ;  but 
an  angel  of  the  Lord  released  him,  which 
so  enraged  Herod,  that  he  ordered  the  sen- 
tinels who  guarded  the  dungeon  in  which  he 
had  been  confined,  to  be  put  to  death.  St. 
Peter,  after  various  other  miracles,  retired 
to  Rome,  where  he  defeated  all  the  arti- 
fices, and  confounded  the  magic  of  Simon, 
the  magician,  a  great  favorite  of  the  empe- 
ror Nero.  He  likewise  converted  to  Chris- 
tianity one  of  the  concubines  of  that  mon- 
arch, which  so  exasperated  the  tyrant,  that 
he  ordered  both  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  to 
be  apprehended.  During  the  time  of  their 
confinement,  they  converted  two  of  the  cap- 
tains of  the  guard,  and  forty-seven  other  per- 
sons, to  Christianity.  Having  been  nine 
months  in  prison,  Peter  was  brought  out 
thence  for  execution,  when,  after  being  se- 
verely scourged,  he  was  crucified  with  his 
head  downward  ;  which  position,  however, 
was  at  his  own  request.  His  festival  is  ob- 
served on  June  29,  on  which  day  he,  as 
well  as  St.  Paul,  suffered.  His  body 
being  taken  down,  embalmed,  and  buried 
in  the  Vatican,  a  church  was  afterward 
erected  on  the  spot ;  but  this  being  de- 
stroyed by  the  emperor  Heliogabalus,  the 
body  was  removed,  till  the  twentieth  bishop 
of  Rome,  called  Cornelius,  conveyed  it 
again  to  the  Vatican  ;  afterward  Constan- 


tine  the  Great  erected  one  of  the  most 
stately  churches  in  the  universe  over  the 
place.  Before  we  quit  this  article,  it  is 
requisite  to  observe,  that  previous  to  the 
death  of  St.  Peter,  his  wife  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom for  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  was  ex- 
horted, when  going  to  be  put  to  death,  to 
remember  the  Lord  Jesus. 

ST.  PAUL,  the  apostle  and  martyr, 
was  a  Jew  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  born 
at  Tarsus,  in  Cilicia.  He  was  at  first  a 
great  enemy  to,  and  persecutor  of  the 
Christians  ;  but  after  his  miraculous  con- 
version, he  became  a  strenuous  preacher 
of  Christ's  gospel.  At  Iconium,  St.  Paul 
and  St.  Barnabas  were  near  being  stoned  to 
death  by  the  enraged  Jews,  wherefore  they 
fled  to  Lyconia.  At  Lystra,  St.  Paul  was 
stoned,  dragged  out  of  the  city,  and  left  for 
dead.  He,  however,  happily  revived,  and 
escaped  to  Derbe.  At  Philippi,  Paul  and 
Silas  were  imprisoned  and  whipped  ;  and 
both  were  again  persecuted  at  Thessalon- 
ica.  Being  afterward  taken  at  Jerusalem, 
he  was  sent  to  Cesarea,  but  appealed  to 
Caesar  at  Rome.  Here  he  continued  pris- 
oner at  large  for  two  years.  Being  re- 
leased, he  visited  the  churches  of  Greece 
and  Rome,  and  preached  in  France  and 
Spain.  Returning  to  Rome,  he  was  again 
apprehended,  and,  by  the  order  of  Nero, 
martyred,  by  being  beheaded.  Two  days 
are  dedicated  to  the  commemoration  of  this 
apostle  ;  the  one  for  his  conversion,  the 
other  for  his  martyrdom  ;  the  first  being 
on  the  25th  of  January,  and  the  latter  on 
the  29th  of  June. 

ST.  JUDE,  the  apostle  and  martyr,  the 
brother  of  James,  was  commonly  called 
Thaddceus.  Being  sent  to  Edessa,  he 
wrought  many  miracles,  and  made  many 
converts,  which  stirring  up  the  resentment 
of  people  in  power,  he  was  crucified,  A.  D. 
72  ;  and  the  28th  of  October  is,  by  the 
church,  dedicated  to  his  memory. 

ST.  BARTHOLOMEW  preached  in 
several  countries,  performed  many  mira- 
cles, and  healed  various  diseases.  He 
translated  St.  Matthew's  gospel  into  the 


■m 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


19 


I  Indian  language,  and  propagated  it  in  that  J  was  previously  a  disciple  of  John  the  Bap- 

\  country ;  but  at  length,  the  idolaters  grow-  >  tist,   and    afterward   not  only  one   of  the 

ing  impatient  with  his  doctrines,  severely  >  twelve   apostles,  but  one   of  the   three  to 


beat,  crucified,  and  flayed  him,  and  then 
cut  off  his  head.  The  anniversary  of  his 
martyrdom  is  on  the  24th  of  August. 

ST.  THOMAS,  as  he  was  called  in 
Syriac,  but  Didymus  in  Greek,  was  an 
apostle  and  martyr.  He  preached  in  Par- 
thia  and  India,  where,  displeasing  the  pa- 
gan priests,  he  was  martyred  by  being 
thrust  through  with  a  spear.  His  death  is 
commemorated  on  the  21st  of  December. 

ST.  LUKE,  the  evangelist  and  martyr, 
was  the  author  of  a  most  excellent  gospel. 
He  travelled  with  St.  Paul  to   Rome,  and 


whom  Christ  communicated  the  most  se- 
cret passages  of  his  life.  The  churches 
in  Asia  founded  by  St.  John  were,  Smyrna, 
Pergamus,  Sardis,  Philadelphia,  Laodicea, 
and  Thyatyra,  to  whom  he  directs  his  book 
of  Revelations.  Being  at  Ephesus,  he  was 
ordered  by  the  emperor  Domitian  to  be 
sent  bound  to  Rome,  where  he  was  con- 
demned to  be  cast  into  a  caldron  of  boiling 
oil.  But  here  a  miracle  appeared  in  his 
favor ;  the  oil  did  him  no  injury,  and 
Domitian  therefore  not  being  able  to  put 
him  to  death,  banished  him  to  Patmos  to 


preached  to   divers  barbarous  nations,  till  <  work  at  the  mines.     He  was,  however,  re- 


the  priests  in  Greece  hanged  him  on  an 
olive-tree.  The  anniversary  of  his  mar- 
tyrdom is  on  the  18th  of  October. 

ST.  SIMON,  the   apostle   and   martyr, 
was  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Zelotes, 


called  by  Nerva,  who  succeeded  Domitian 
after  his  decease,  but  was  deemed  a  martyr 
on  account  of  having  undergone  the  mode 
of  an  execution,  though  it  did  not  take  ef- 
fect.    He  wrote  his  epistles,  gospel,  and 


from  his  zeal.  He  preached  with  great  \  revelations,  all  in  a  different  style,  but  they 
success  in  Mauritania,  and  other  parts  of  s  are  all  equally  admired.  He  was  the  only 
Africa,  and  even  in  Britain,  where,  though  s  apostle  who  escaped  a  violent  death  ;  lived 
he  made  many  converts,  he  was  crucified  s  the  longest  of  any  of  them,  being  near  100  \ 
by  the  then  barbarous  inhabitants  of  that  I  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death  ;  and 
island,  A.  D.  74;  and  the  church,  joining  5  the  church  commemorates  the  27th  day  of 
him  with  St.  Jude,  commemorates  his  fes-  5  December  to  his  memory, 
tival  on  the  28th  day  of  October.  I      ST.  BARNABAS  was  a  native  of  Cy- 

ST.  JOHN.  This  saint  was,  at  once,  as  prus,  but  of  Jewish  parents  :  the  time  of 
prophet,  apostle,  divine,  evangelist,  and  i  his  death  is  uncertain,  but  supposed  to  be 
martyr.  He  is  called  the  beloved  disciple,  \  about  the  year  of  Christ  73  ;  and  his  festi- 
and  was  brother  to  James  the  Great.     He  j  val  is  kept  on  the  11th  of  June. 


THE  FIRST  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTIONS  UNDER  NERO. 

HE  first  persecution,  in  5  space  of  five  years,  with  tolerable  credit  to 
the  primitive  ages  of  \  himself,  but  then  gave  way  to  the  greatest 
the  church,  was  begun  \  extravagance  of  temper,  and  to  the  most 
by  that  cruel  tyrant  Nero  <  atrocious  barbarities.  Among  other  dia- 
Domitius,  the  sixth  em-  \  bolical  outrages,  he  ordered  that  the  city 
peror  of  Rome,  and  A.  of  Rome  should  be  set  on  fire,  which  was 
This    monarch    reigned,   for   the  \  done  by  his  officers,  guards,  and  servants,  j 


20 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


While  the  city  was  in  flames,  he  went  up 
to  the  tower  of  Maecenas,  played  upon  his 
harp,  sung  the  song  of  the  burning  of  Troy, 
and  declared  that  "  he  wished  the  ruin  of 
all  things  before  his  death."  Among  the 
noble  buildings  burnt  was  the  circus,  or 
place  appropriated  to  horse-races.  It  was 
half  a  mile  in  length,  of  an  oval  form,  with 
rows  of  seats  rising  above  each  other,  and 
capable  of  receiving,  with  ease,  upward  of 
100,000  spectators.  Many  other  palaces 
and  houses  were  consumed  ;  and  several 
thousands  of  the  people  perished  in  the 
flames,  were  smothered  or  buried  beneath 
the  ruins. 

This  dreadful  conflagration  continued 
nine  days ;  when  Nero,  finding  that  his 
conduct  was  greatly  blamed,  and  a  severe 
odium  cast  upon  him,  determined  to  lay  the 
whole  upon  the  Christians,  at  once  to  ex- 
cuse himself,  and  have  an  opportunity  of 
witnessing  new  cruelties.  The  barbarities 
exercised  upon  the  Christians,  during  the 
first  persecution,  were  such  as  even  excited 
the  commiseration  of  the  Romans  them- 
selves. Nero  even  refined  upon  cruelty, 
and  contrived  all  manner  of  punishments 
for  the  Christians.  In  particular,  he  had 
some  sewed  up  in  the  skins  of  wild  beasts, 
and  then  worried  by  dogs  till  they  expired  ; 
and  others  dressed  in  shirts  made  stiff  with 
wax,  fixed  to  axletrees,  and  set  on  fire  in 
his  gardens.  This  persecution  was  gene- 
ral throughout  the  whole  Roman  empire 
but  it  rather  increased  than  diminished  the 
spirit  of  Christianity.  Besides  Paul  and 
Peter,  many  others,  whose  names  have  not 
been  transmitted  to  posterity,  and  who  were 
some  of  their  converts  and  followers,  suf- 
fered ;  the  facts  concerning  the  principal 
of  whom  we  shall  proceed  to  describe. 

Erastus,  the  chamberlain  of  Corinth, 
was  converted  by  Paul,  and  determined  to 
follow  the  fortune  of  that  apostle.  For  this 
reason  he  resigned  his  office,  and  accom- 
panied Paul  in  his  voyages  and  travels,  till 
the  latter  left  him  at  Macedonia,  where  he 
was  first  made  bishop  of  that  province  by  the 
Christians  ;  and  afterward  suffered  martyr- 


dom, being  tortured  to  death  by  the  pagans 
at  Philippi. 

Aristarchus,  the  Macedonian,  was  born 
in  Thessalonica,  and  being  converted  by 
Paul,  became  his  constant  companion.  He 
was  with  that  apostle  at  Ephesus,  during 
a  commotion  raised  in  that  city  by  De- 
metrius, the  silversmith.  They  both  re- 
ceived several  insults  upon  the  occasion 
from  the  populace,  which  they  bore  with 
Christian  patience,  giving  good  advice  in 
return  for  ill-usage,  and  not  in  the  least  re- 
senting any  indignity.  Aristarchus  accom- 
panied Paul  from  Ephesus  into  Greece, 
where  they  were  very  successful  in  prop- 
agating the  gospel,  and  bringing  over  many 
to  Christianity.  Having  left  Greece,  they 
traversed  a  great  part  of  Asia,  and  made  a 
considerable  stay  in  Judea,  where  they 
were  very  successful  in  making  converts. 
After  this,  Aristarchus  went,  with  Paul  to 
Rome,  where  he  suffered  the  same  fate  as 
the  apostle  ;  for,  being  seized  as  a  Christian, 
he  was  beheaded  by  the  command  of  Nero. 

Trophimus,  an  Ephesian  by  birth,  and  a 
Gentile  by  religion,  was  converted  by  Paul 
to  the  Christian  faith,  and  accompanied  his 
master  in  his  travels.  Upon  his  account 
the  Jews  raised  a  great  disturbance  in  the 
temple  at  Jerusalem,  the  last  time  Paul  was 
in  that  city.  They  even  attempted  to  mur- 
der the  apostle,  for  having  introduced  him, 
being  a  Greek,  into  the  temple.  Lysias, 
the  captain  of  the  guard,  however,  inter- 
posed, and  rescued  Paul  by  force  from  their 
hands.  On  quitting  Jerusalem,  Trophimus 
attended  his  master  first  to  Rome,  and  then 
to  Spain  ;  passing  through  Gaul,  the  apos- 
tle made  him  bishop  of  that  province,  and 
left  him  in  the  city  of  Aries.  About  a 
twelvemonth  after,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Paul 
in  Asia,  and  went  with  him,  for  the  last 
time,  to  Rome,  where  he  was  witness  to 
his  martyrdom,  which  was  but  the  forerun- 
ner of  his  own  ;  for,  being  soon  after  seized 
on  account  of  his  faith,  he  was  beheaded 
by  order  of  Nero. 

Joseph,  commonly  called  Barsabas,  was 
a  primitive  disciple,  and  is  usually  deemed 


BURNING   OF   THE    CITY    OF    ROME. — Page    21. 


*m 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


23 


one  of  the  seventy.  He  was,  in  some  de- 
l  gree,  related  to  the  Redeemer ;  and  he  be- 
came a  candidate,  together  with  Matthias, 
to  fill  the  office  of  Judas  Iscariot.  The 
ecclesiastical  writings  make  very  little  other 
mention  of  him  ;  but  Papias  informs  us, 
that  he  was  once  compelled  to  drink  poison, 
which  did  not  do  him  the  least  injury, 
agreeably  to  the  promise  of  the  Lord,  to 
those  who  believe  in  him.  He  was,  during 
his  life,  a  zealous  preacher  of  the  gospel ; 
and  having  received  many  insults  from  the 


Jews,  at  length  obtained  martyrdom,  being 
murdered  by  the  pagans  in  Judea. 

Ananias,  bishop  of  Damascus,  is  cele- 
brated in  the  sacred  writings  for  being  the 
person  who  cured  Paul  of  the  blindness 
with  which  he  was  struck  by  the  amazing 
brightness  which  happened  at  his  conver- 
sion. He  was  one  of  the  seventy,  and  was 
martyred  in  the  city  of  Damascus.  After 
his  death,  a  Christian  church  was  built 
over  the  place  of  his  burial,  which  is  now 
converted  into  a  Turkish  mosque. 


THE  SECOND  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  DOMITIAN. 


HE  emperor  Domitian  was 
naturally  of  a  cruel  dispo- 
sition :  he  first  slew  his 
brother,  and  then  raised 
the  second  persecution 
against  the  Christians. 
His  rage  was  such,  that  he  even  put  to 
death  some  of  the  Roman  senators ;  some 
through  malice,  and  others  to  confiscate 
their  estates  ;  and  he  then  commanded 
all  the  lineage  of  David  to  be  extirpa- 
ted. Two  Christians  were  brought  be- 
fore him,  accused  of  being  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  and  line  of  David  ;  but  from  their 
answers,  he  despised  them  as  idiots,  and 
dismissed  them  accordingly.  He,  howev- 
er, was  determined  to  be  more  secure  upon 
other  occasions ;  for  he  took  away  the 
property  of  many  Christians,  put  several  to 
death,  and  banished  others. 

Among  the  numerous  martyrs  that  suf- 
fered during  this  persecution,  was  Simeon, 
j  bishop  of  Jerusalem,  who  was  crucified  ; 
i  and  John,  who  was  boiled  in  oil,  and  after- 
!  ward  banished  to  Patmos.  Flavia,  the 
!  daughter  of  a  Roman  senator,  was  likewise 
t  banished  to  Pontus ;  and  a  law  was  made, 
that  "  no  Christian,  once  brought  before 
J  their  tribunal,  should  be  exempted  from 
!  punishment  without  renouncing  his  reli- 
\  gion." 


During  this  reign,  there  were  a  vaiiety 
of  tales  composed,  in  order  to  injure  the 
Christians.  Among  other  falsehoods,  they 
were  accused  of  indecent  nightly  meetings  ; 
of  a  rebellious,  turbulent  spirit ;  of  being 
inimical  to  the  Roman  empire ;  of  mur- 
dering their  children,  and  even"  of  being 
cannibals ;  and  at  this  time,  such  was  the 
infatuation  of  the  pagans,  that  if  famine, 
pestilence,  or  earthquakes,  afflicted  any  of 
the  Roman  provinces,  these  calamities  were 
said  to  be  manifestations  of  the  Divine 
wrath  occasioned  by  their  impieties.  These 
persecutions  increased  the  number  of  in- 
formers ;  and  many,  for  the  sake  of  gain, 
swore  away  the  lives  of  the  innocent. 
When  any  Christians  were  brought  before 
the  magistrates,  a  test  oath  was  proposed, 
when,  if  they  refused  it,  death  was  pro- 
nounced against  them  ;  and  if  they  con- 
fessed themselves  Christians,  the  sentence 
was  the  same.  The  various  kinds  of  pun- 
ishments and  inflicted  cruelties,  were,  im- 
prisonment, racking,  searing,  broiling,  burn- 
ing, scourging,  stoning,  hanging,  and  wor- 
rying. Many  were  torn  piecemeal  with 
red-hot  pincers,  and  others  were  thrown 
upon  the  horns  of  wild  bulls.  After  hav- 
|  ing  suffered  these  cruelties,  the  friends  of 
£  the  deceased  were  refused  the  privilege  of 
*  burying  their  remains. 


a 


7s 


24 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


The  following  were  the  most  remarka- 
ble among  the  numerous  martyrs  who  suf- 
fered during  this  persecution  : — 

Dionysius,  the  Areopagite,  was  an  Athe- 
nian by  birth,  and  educated  in  all  the  use- 
ful and  ornamental  literature  of  Greece. 
He  then  travelled  to  Egypt  to  study  as- 
tronomy, and  made  very  particular  obser- 
vations on  the  great  and  supernatural 
eclipse  which  happened  at  the  time  of  our 
Savior's  crucifixion. 

On  his  return  to  Athens  he  was  highly 
honored  by  the  people,  and  at  length  pro- 
moted to  the  dignity  of  senator  of  that  cel- 
ebrated city.  Becoming  a  convert  to  the 
gospel,  he  changed  from  the  worthy  pagan 
magistrate  to  the  pious  Christian  pastor; 
for  even  while  involved  in  the  darkness  of 
idolatry,  he  was  as  just  as  the  gross  errors 
of  paganism  would  permit. 

His  words  were  bonds  ;  his  oaths  were  oracles  ; 
His  love  sincere  ;  his  thoughts  benevolent ; 
His  tears  pure  messengers  sent  from  his  heart ; 
His  heart  as  far  from  fraud  as  heaven  from  earth. 

It  is  easy  to  be  imagined,  that  a  soul 
which  could  appear  with  some  lustre  while 
loaded  with  original  sin,  and  tainted  with 
superstition,  must,  when  illuminated  with 
the  light  of  the  gospel,  shine  with  the 
most,  splendid  brilliancy. 

The  sanctity  of  his  conversation,  and 
purity  of  his  manners,  recommended  him 
so  strongly  to  the  Christians  in  general,  that 
he  was  appointed  bishop  of  Athens.  He 
discharged  his  duty  with  the  utmost  dili- 
gence till  the  second  year  of  this  persecu- 
tion, viz.  A.  D.  96,  when  he  was  appre- 
hended, and  received  the  crown  of  mar- 
tyrdom, by  being  beheaded. 

Nicomedes,  a  Christian  of  some  dis- 
tinction at  Rome,  during  the  rage  of  Dorni- 
tian's  persecution,  did  all  he  could  to  serve 
the  afflicted,  comforting  the  poor,  visiting 
those  confined,  exhorting  the  wavering, 
and  confirming  the  faithful.  For  those  and 
other  pious  actions  he  was  seized  as  a 
Christian,  and  being  sentenced,  was 
scourged  to  death. 

Protasius   and  Gervasius  were  mar- 


tyred at  Milan  ;  but  the  particular  circum- 
stances of  their  deaths  are  not  recorded. 

Timothy,  the  celebrated  disciple  of  St. 
Paul,  and  bishop  of  Ephesus,  was  born  at 
Lystra,  in  the  province  of  Lycaonia,  his 
father  being  a  Gentile,  and  his  mother  a 
Jewess.  But  both  his  parents  and  his 
grandmother  embraced  Christianity,  by 
which  means  young  Timothy  was  taught 
the  precepts  of  the  gospel  from  his  infancy. 
St.  Paul  coming  to  Lycaonia,  ordained 
Timothy,  and  then  made  him  the  compan- 
ion of  his  pious  labors.  It  appears,  that 
while  he  attended  the  apostle,  his  zeal 
could  be  only  equalled  by  his  fidelity ;  for 
St.  Paul  mentions  him  with  peculiar  re- 
spect, and  declares  that  he  could  find  none 
so  truly  united  to  him,  both  in  heart  and 
mind,  as  Timothy.  Indeed  the  apostle, 
upon  various  occasions,  speaks  of  him  in 
the  most  affectionate  terms,  which  is  a  suf- 
ficient proof  of  his  great  merit,  and  evinces 
that  he  was  a  disinterested  and  diligent 
servant  of  Christ- 
Timothy  attended  St.  Paul  to  Macedo- 
nia, and  there,  with  the  apostle  and  Silas, 
he  labored  with  assiduity  in  the  propa- 
gation of  the  gospel.  When  St.  Paul 
went  to  Achaia,  Timothy  was  left  behind 
to  strengthen  the  faith  of  those  already 
converted,  or  to  induce  others  to  quit  the 
darkness  of  ignorance  for  the  light  of  gos- 
pel knowledge. 

At  length  St.  Paul  sent  for  Timothy  to 
Athens,  and  then  despatched  him  to  Thes- 
salonica,  to  strengthen  the  suffering  Chris 
tians  there  against  the  terrors  of  the  perse 
cution  which  then  raged. 

When  Timothy  arrived  at  the  place  of 
his  destination,  he  did  all  that  a  zealous 
Christian  could  for  the  service  of  his 
Redeemer.  Having  performed  his  mis- 
sion, he  returned  to  Athens,  and  there 
assisted  St.  Paul  and  Silas  in  composing  the 
two  epistles  to  the  Thessalonians.  H« 
then  accompanied  St.  Paul  to  Corinth,  Je- 
rusalem, and  Ephesus. 

After  performing  several  other  commis 
sions  for  St.  Paul,  and  attending  him  upoi 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


25 


^  various  other  journeys,  the  apostle  consti- 
\  tuted  him  bishop  of  Ephesus,  though  he 
\  was  only  thirty  years  of  age  ;  and  in  two 
\  admirable  epistles  gave  him  proper  instruc- 
\  tions  for  his  conduct  in  so  important  a; 
|  charge. 

5  Timothy  was  so  very  temperate  in  his 
<  living,  that  St.  Paul  blames  him  for  being 
\  too  abstemious,  and  recommends  to  him 
>  the  moderate  use  of  wine  to  recruit  his 
I  strength  and  spirits. 

\  St.  Paul  sent  to  Timothy  while  he  was 
I  in  his  last  confinement  at  Rome,  to  come 
^  to  him ;  and  after  that  great  apostle's  mar- 


tyrdom, he  returned  to  Ephesus,  where  he 
zealously  governed  the  church  till  A.  D. 
97.  At  this  period  the  pagans  were  about 
to  celebrate  a  feast  called  Catagogion,  the 
principal  ceremonies  of  which  were,  that 
the  people  should  carry  battoons  in  their 
hands,  go  masked,  and  bear  about  the 
streets  the  images  of  their  gods. 

Timothy,  meeting  the  procession,  se- 
verely reproved  them  for  their  ridiculous 
idolatry,  which  so  exasperated  the  people 
that  they  fell  upon  him  with  their  clubs, 
and  beat  him  in  so  dreadful  a  manner,  that 
he  expired  of  the  bruises  two  days  after. 


THE  THIRD  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS. 


'ERVA  succeeding  Do- 
mitian,  gave  a  respite 
to  the  Christians  ;  but 
reigning  only  thirteen 
months,  his  successor 
Trajan,  in  the  10th 
',  year  of  his  reign,  and  in  A.  D.  108,  began 
1  the  third  persecution  against  the  Christians. 
i  While  the  persecution  raged,  Plinius  Se- 
?  cundus,  a  heathen  philosopher,  wrote  to 
?  the  emperor  in  favor  of  the  Christians,  to 

>  whose  epistle  Trajan  returned  this  indeci- 

$  sive  answer,  "  The  Christians  ought  not ; 
j  to  be  sought  after,  but  when  brought  before 
5  the  magistracy,  they  should  be  punished." 
I  This  absurd  reply  made  Tertullian  ex- 
|  claim,  in  the  following  words,  "  0,  con- 
?  fused  sentence  ;  he  would  not  have  them 

>  sought  for  as  innocent,  and  yet  would  have 

>  them  punished  as  guilty."  The  emperor's 
I  incoherent  answer,  however,  occasioned 
]  the  persecution  in  some  measure  to  abate, 
\  as  his  officers  were  uncertain,  if  they  car- 
ried it  on  with  severity,  how  he  might 
choose  to  wrest  his  own  meaning.  Trajan, 
however,  soon  after  wrote  to  Jerusalem, 
and  gave  orders  to  his  officers  to  extermi- 
nate the  stock  of  David  ;  in  consequence ; 


of  which,  all  that  could  be  found  of  that 
race  were  put  to  death. 

Symphorosa,  a  widow,  and  her  seven 
sons,  were  commanded  by  the  emperor  to 
sacrifice  to  the  heathen  deities.  Unani- 
mously refusing  to  comply  with  such  an 
impious  request,  the  emperor,  in  a  rage, 
told  her,  that  for  her  obstinacy,  herself 
and  her  sons  should  be  slain,  to  appease 
the  wrath  of  his  offended  deities  ;  to  which 
she  answered,  that  if  he  murdered  her  and 
her  children,  the  idols  he  adored  would 
only  be  held  in  the  greater  detestation. 

The  emperor,  being  greatly  exasperated 
at  this,  ordered  her  to  be  carried  to  the 
temple  of  Hercules,  where  she  was  scourg- 
ed, and  hung  up,  for  some  time,  by  the  hair 
of  her  head ;  then  being  taken  down,  a 
large  stone  was  fastened  to  her  neck,  and 
she  was  thrown  into  the  river,  where  she 
expired.  With  respect  to  the  sons,  they 
were  fastened  to  seven  posts,  and  being 
drawn  up  by  pulleys,  their  limbs  were  dis- 
located. These  tortures,  not  affecting  their 
resolution,  they  were  thus  martyred  :  Cres- 
centius,  the  eldest,  was  stabbed  in  the 
throat ;  Julian,  the  second,  in  the  breast ; 
Nemesius,  the  third,  in  the  heart ;  Primi- 


I  26 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


tius,  the  fourth,  in  the  navel ;  Justice,  the  S  sacrifice  to  Neptune,  was,  by  the  imme- 
fifth,  in  the  back  ;  Stacteus,  the  sixth,  in  I  diate  order  of  Trajan,  cast  first  into  a  hot 
the  side;  and  Eugenius,  the  youngest,  Mime-kiln,  and  being  drawn  from  thence, 
was  sawed  asunder.  >  was   thrown   into  a  scalding  bath   till   he 

Phocas,   bishop  of  Pontus,  refusing  to  'i  expired. 


IGNATIUS  (died 

Trajan  likewise  commanded  the  martyr- 
dom of  Ignatius,  bishop  of  Antioch.  This 
holy  man  was  the  person  whom,  when  an 
infant,  Christ  took  into  his  arms,  and 
showed  to  his  disciples,  as  one  that  would 
be  a  pattern  of  humility  and  innocence. 
He  received  the  gospel  afterward  from  St.  \ 
John  the  Evangelist,  and  was  exceedingly 
zealous  in  his  mission.  He  boldly  vindi- 
cated the  faith  of  Christ  before  the  emperor, 
for  which,  being  cast  into  prison,  he  was 
tormented  in  a  most  cruel  manner  ;  for  after 
being  dreadfully  scourged,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  hold  fire  in  his  hands,  and  at  the 
same  time,  papers  dipped  in  oil  were  put 
to  his  sides,  and  set  on  light.  His  flesh 
was  then  torn  with  red  hot  pincers,  and  at 
last  he  was  despatched,  by  being  torn  to 
pieces  by  wild  beasts. 

Trajan  being  succeeded  by  Adrian,  the 
latter  continued  this  third  persecution  with 
as  much  severity  as  his  predecessor. 
About  this  time  Alexander,  bishop  of  Rome, 


in  the  year  111). 

with  his  two  deacons}  were  martyred  ;  as 
were  Quirinus  and  Hermes,  with  their  fam- 
ilies, Zenon,  a  Roman  nobleman,  and 
about  ten  thousand  other  Christians. 

In  Mount  Ararat  many  were  crucified, 
crowned  with  thorns,  and  spears  ran  into 
their  sides,  in  imitation  of  Christ's  passion. 
Eustachius,  a  brave  and  successful  Roman 
commander,  was  by  the  emperor  ordered 
to  join  in  an  idolatrous  sacrifice  to  cele- 
brate some  of  his  own  victories  ;  but  his 
faith  (being  a  Christian  in  his  heart)  was 
so  much  greater  than  his  vanity,  that  he 
nobly  refused  it.  Enraged  at  the  denial, 
the  ungrateful  emperor  forgot  the  services 
of  this  skilful  commander,  and  ordered  him 
and  his  whole  family  to  be  martyred. 

At  the  martyrdom  of  Faustinus  and 
Jovita,  brothers  and  citizens  of  Bressia, 
their  torments  were  so  many,  and  their  pa- 
tience so  great,  that  Calocerius,  a  pagan, 
beholding  them,  was  struck  with  admira- 
tion, and  exclaimed  in  a  kind  of  ecstasy, 


M 


s 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


27 


"  Great  is  the  God  of  the  Christians ;"  for 
which  he  was  apprehended,  and  suffered! 
a  similar  fate.  < 

Many  other  similar  cruelties  and  rigors  j 
were  exercised  against  the  Christians,  till  < 
Quadratus,  bishop  of  Athens,  made  a  learned  « 
apology  in  their  favor  before  the  emperor, 
who  happened  to  be  there  ;  and  Aristides, 
a  philosopher  of  the  same  city,  wrote  an  j 
elegant   epistle,  which  caused   Adrian    to 
relax  in  his  severities,  and  relent  in  their 
favor.     He  indeed  went  so  far  as  to  com- 
mand that  no  Christian  should  be  punished 
on  the  score  of  religion  or  opinion  only ; 
but  this  gave  other  handles  against  them  to 
the  Jews  and  pagans,  for  then  they  began 
to  employ  and   suborn  false  witnesses,  to 
accuse  them  of  crimes  against  the  state  or 
civil  authority. 


Adrian  dying  in  the  year  A.  D.  138,  was 
succeeded  by  Antoninus  Pius,  one  of  the 
most  amiable  monarchs  that  ever  reigned  ; 
for  his  people  gave  him  a  title  which  he 
justly  deserved,  viz  :  "  The  Father  of  Vir- 
tues." Immediately  upon  his  accession  to 
the  imperial  throne,  he  published  an  edict, 
forbidding  any  further  persecutions  against 
the  Christians,  and  concluded  it  in  these 
words :  "  If  any  hereafter  shall  vex  or 
trouble  the  Christians,  having  no  other 
cause  but  that  they  are  such,  let  the  ac- 
cused be  released,  and  the  accusers  be 
punished."  This  stopped  the  persecution, 
and  the  Christians  enjoyed  a  respite  from 
their  sufferings  during  this  emperor's  reign, 
though  their  enemies  took  every  occasion 
to  do  them  what  injuries  they  could  in  an 
underhand  manner. 


,    THE  FOURTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS, 


NTONINUS  PIUS,   was 
succeeded    by    Marcus 
Aurelius      Antoninus 
Verus,  A.  D.  162,  who, 
being  a  strong  pagan,  be- 
gan the  fourth  persecu- 
tion, in  which  many  Christians  were  mar- 
tyred, particularly  in  several  parts  of  Asia, 
>  and  in  France. 

<  The  cruelties  used  in  this  persecution 
s  were  such,  that  many  of  the  spectators 
i  shuddered  with  horror  at  the  sight,  and 
5  were  astonished  at  the  intrepidity  of  the 
|  sufferers.  Some  of  the  martyrs  were 
5  obliged  to  pass,  with  their  already  wounded 
s  feet,  over  thorns,  nails,  sharp  shells,  &c, 
|  with  their  points  ;  others  were  scourged 
till  their  sinews  and  veins  lay  bare  ;  and 
i  after  suffering  the  most  excruciating  tor- 
s  tures  that  could  be  devised,  they  were 
S  destroyed  by  the  most  terrible  deaths. 
I  Germanicus,  a  young  man,  but  true 
s  Christian,  being  delivered  to  the  wild  beasts 


on  account  of  his  faith,  behaved  with  such 
astonishing  courage,  that  several  pagans  be- 
came converts  to  a  faith  which  inspired  such 
fortitude.  This  enraged  others  so  much, 
that  they  cried  out,  he  merited  death  ;  and 
many  of  the  multitude,  wondering  at  this 
beloved  martyr  for  his  constancy  and  vir- 
tue, began  suddenly  to  cry  out  with  a  loud 
voice,  saying,  "  Destroy  the  wicked  men  ; 
let  Polycarpus  be  sought  for."  And  while 
a  great  uproar  and  tumult  began  to  be 
raised  upon  those  cries,  a  certain  Phrygian, 
named  Quintus,  lately  arrived  from  his 
country,  was  so  afflicted  at  the  sight  of 
the  wild  beasts,  that  he  rushed  to  the  judg- 
ment-seat and  upbraided  the  judges,  for 
which  he  was  put  to  death. 

Polycarpus,  hearing  that  he  was  sought 
after,  escaped,  but  was  discovered  by  a 
child.  From  this  circumstance,  and  hav- 
ing dreamed  that  his  bed  suddenly  became 
on  fire,  and  was  consumed  in  a  moment,  he 
concluded  that  it  was  God's  will  that  he 


28 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


should  seal  his  faith  with  martyrdom.  He  j  were  amazed  at  his  serene  countenance 
therefore  would  not  attempt  to  make  a  sec-  >  and  comely  gravity.  After  feasting  them, 
ond  escape  when  he  had  an  opportunity  of>he  desired  an  hour  in  prayer,  which  being 
so  doing.     Those  who   apprehended  him  \  allowed,  he  prayed  with  such  fervency,  that 


POLYCARPUS  (died  in  the  year  170). 


his  guards  repented  they  had  been  instru- 
mental in  taking  him.  He  was,  however, 
carried  before  the  pro-consul,  condemned, 
and  conducted  to  the  market-place.  Wood 
being  provided,  the  holy  man  earnestly 
prayed  to  Heaven,  after  being  bound  to  the 
stake  ;  and  as  the  flames  grew  vehement, 
the  executioners  gave  way  on  both  sides, 
the  heat  now  becoming  intolerable.  In  the 
meantime  the  bishop  sung  praises  to  God 
in  the  midst  of  the  flames,  but  remained 
unconsumed  therein,  and  the  burning  of  the 
wood  spreading  a  fragrance  around,  the 
guards  were  much  surprised.  Determined, 
however,  to  put  an  end  to  his  life,  they 
struck  spears  into  his  body,  when  the 
quantity  of  blood  that  issued  from  the 
wounds  extinguished  the  flames.  After! 
considerable  attempts,  however,  they  put : 
him  to  death,  and  burned  his  body  when 
dead,  not  being  able  to  consume  it  while 
alive.  This  extraordinary  event  had  such: 
an  effect  upon  the  people,  that  they  began ! 
to  adore  the  martyr  ;  and  the  pro-consul , 


was  admonished  not  to  deliver  his  body, 
lest  the  people   should  leave  Christ,  and  £ 
begin    to    worship    him.       Twelve    other  'i 
Christians,  who    had    been   intimate  with  j 
Polycarpus,  were  soon  after  martyred. 

Metrodorus,  a  minister,  who  preached 
boldly,  and   Pionius,  who  made  some   ex- 
cellent  apologies  for  the   Christian  faith,  < 
were  likewise  burned. 

Felicitatas,  an  illustrious  Roman  lady  \ 
of  a  considerable  family,  and  great  virtues,   ; 
was  a  devout  Christian.     She  had  seven  j 
sons,   whom   she   had  educated  with    the  j 
most  exemplary  piety.     The  empire  having  j 
been  about  this  time  grievously  troubled 
with  earthquakes,  famine,  inundations,  &c,  i 
the  Christians  were  accused  as  the  cause,  j 
and  Felicitatas  was  included  in  the  accu-  j 
sation.     The  lady  and   her   family  being 
seized,  the  emperor  gave  orders  to  Publius, 
the   Roman  governor,  to  proceed  against  \ 
her.     Upon   this,  Publius  began  with  the  < 
mother,  thinking  that  if  he  could  prevail  > 
with  her  to  change  her  religion,  the  exam-  > 


a 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


29 


pie  would  have  great  influence  with  her 
sons.  Finding  her  inflexible,  he  turned 
his  entreaties  to  menaces,  and  threatened 
her  with  destruction  to  herself  and  family. 
She  despised  his  threats  as  she  had  done 
his  promises  ;  he  then  caused  her  sons  to 
be  brought  before  him,  whom  he  examined 
separately.  They  all,  however,  remained 
steadfast  in  their  faith,  and  unanimous  in 
their  opinions,  on  which  the  whole  family 


were  ordered  for  execution.  Januarius,  the 
eldest,  was  scourged  and  pressed  to  death 
with  weights  ;  Felix  and  Philip,  the  two 
next,  had  their  brains  dashed  out  with 
clubs  ;  Sylvanus,  the  fourth,  was  murdered 
by  being  thrown  from  a  precipice  ;  and  the 
three  younger  sons,  viz  :  Alexander,  Vka- 
lis,  and  Martial,  were  all  beheaded.  The 
mother  was  beheaded  with  the  same  sword 
as  the  three  latter. 


JUSTIN  MARTYR 

Justin  Martyr,  the  celebrated  philoso- 
pher, fell  a  martyr  in  this  persecution.  He 
was  a  native  of  Neapolis,  in  Samaria,  and 
was  born  A.  D.  103.  He  had  the  best 
education  those  times  would  afford,  and 
travelled  into  Egypt,  the  country  where  the 
polite  tour  of  that  age  was  made  for  im- 
provement. At  Alexandria  he  was  inform- 
ed of  everything  relative  to  the  seventy 
interpreters  of  the  sacred  writings,  and 
shown  the  rooms,  or  rather  cells,  in  which 
their  work  was  performed.  Justin  was 
a  great  lover  of  truth,  and  a  universal 
scholar  ;  he  investigated  the  stoic  and  peri- 
patetic philosophy,  and  attempted  the  Pytha- 
gorean system  ;  but  the  behavior  of  one  of 
!  its  professors  disgusting  him,  he  applied 
|  himself  to  the  Platonic,  in  which  he  took 


(died  in  the  year  139). 

£  great  delight.  About  the  year  133,  when  > 
I  he  was   thirty  years   of  age,  he  became  a  < 

>  convert  to  Christianity,  and  then,  for  the  < 
*/  first  time,  perceived  the  real  nature  of  truth.  \ 
'/  He  wrote  an  elegant  epistle  to  the  Gen-  \ 
t  tiles,  to  convert  them  to  the  faith  he  had  ; 
^  newly  acquired,  and  lived  in  so  pure  and  \ 
i;  innocent  a  manner,  that  he  well  deserved  < 
\  the  title  of  a  Christian  philosopher.  He  <, 
i  likewise  employed  his  talents  in  convincing  j 
|  the  Jews  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  rites,  > 
(  and  spent  much  time   in  travelling,  till  he  \ 

I  took  up  his  abode  in  Rome,  and  fixed  his  ] 

>  .  .  .  \ 
(  habitation  upon  the  Viminal  mount. 

I      He  kept  a  public   school,  taught  many  l< 

I  who    afterward    became    great    men,    and  < 

',  wrote  a  treatise  to  confute  heresies  of  all  > 


$  kinds.     As  the  pagans  began    about  this 


i* 


30 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


3* 


j  time  to  treat  the  Christians  with  great  se- 1  Monarchy  ;  A  Dialogue  with   Trypho  the 
j  verily,  Justin   wrote    his   first    apology  in  j  Jew,  and  an  Epistle  to  Diagnetus. 
}  their  favor,  and  addressed  it  to  the  empe- 1      Several  were  beheaded    for  refusing  to 
j  ror,  to  two   princes  whom  he  had  adopted  <  sacrifice  to   the  image  of  Jupiter  ;  in  par- 
as his  sons,  and  to   the   senate  and  people  <  ticular  Concordus,  a  deacon  of  the  citv  of 
of  Rome  in  general.     This  piece  displays    Spoleto,   being  carried  before   the   ima^e, 
great  learning  and  genius,  is  written  with  ]  and  ordered  to  worship  it,  not  only  refused, 
a  manly  elegance,  and  occasioned  the  em-  j  but  spit  in  its  face  ;  for  which  he  was  se- 
peror  to  publish   an  edict  in  favor  of  the  i  verely   tormented,  and  afterward  had  his 
I  Christians.  head  cut  off  with  a  sword. 

I  Soon  after  he  entered  into  frequent  con-  <  Some  of  the  northern  nations  bein^  in 
]  tests  with  Crescens,  a  person  of  a  vicious  <  arms  against  Rome,  the  emperor  marched  to 
]  life  and  conversation,  but  a  celebrated  cynic  encounter  them.  He  was,  however,  drawn 
I  philosopher ;  and  his  arguments  appeared  j  into  an  ambuscade,  and  dreaded  the  loss 
i>  so  powerful,  yet  disgusting  to  the  cynic,  that  \  of  his  whole  army.  Enveloped  with  moun- 
\  he  resolved  on,  and  in  the  sequel  accom-  tains,  surrounded  by  enemies,  and  perish- 
>  plished,  his  destruction.  sing  with  thirst,  the  troops  were  driven  to 

Justin's  second  apology  was  occasioned  I  the  last  extremities.     All  the  pagan  deities 
\  by   the    following   circumstances  :   A  man  I  were  invoked  in  vain  ;  when  the  men  be- 
■  and    his   wife,  who  were  both  bad  livers,  >  longing  to  the  militine,  or  thundering  le- 
!  resided  at  Rome.     The  woman,  however,  >  gion,  who  were  all  Christians,  were  com- 
|  becoming    a    convert   to    Christianity,    at- '/  manded  to  call  upon  their  God  for  succor : 
I  tempted  to  reclaim  her   husband  :  but  not  \  they  immediately  withdrew  from  the  rest, 
|  succeeding,  she  sued  for  a  divorce,  which  )  prostrated  themselves  upon  the  earth,  and 
so  exasperated  him,  that  he   accused  her  >  prayed    fervently.     A  miraculous   deliver- 
\  of  being  a  Christian.     Upon  her  petition,  \  ance    immediately    ensued  ;    a   prodigious  \ 
\  however,  he  dropped  the  prosecution,  and  i  quantity  of  rain  fell,  which  being  caught  ', 
>,  levelled  his  malice  at  Ptolemeus,  who  had  j  by  the  men,  and  filling  the  dikes,  afforded  > 
\  converted  her.     Ptolemeus  was  condemned  <  a  sudden  and  astonishing  relief.     The  em-  \ 
<  to  die  ;  and  one  Lucius,  with  another  per-    peror,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Roman  senate,  > 
\  son,  met  with  the  same  fate,  for  expressing  j  wherein  the  expedition  is  described,  after  \ 
I  themselves  too  freely  upon  the  occasion.      \  mentioning  the  difficulties  to  which  he  had  j 
i       The  apology  of  Justin,  upon  these   se-  \  been  driven,  thus  speaks  of  the  Christians  :  I 
\  verities,  gave  Crescens  the   cynic  an  op-  \      "  When  I  saw  myself  not  able  to  en-  \ 
portunity  of  prejudicing  the  emperor  against    counter  with  the  enemies,  I  craved  aid  of 
the  writer  of  it ;  upon  which   Justin,  and  \  our  country  gods  ;  but  at  their  hands  find- 
six  of  his  companions,  were  apprehended.  \  ing  no  relief,  and  being  cooped  up  by  the 
Being  commanded   as  usual  to   deny  their  \  enemy,  I  caused  those  men,  which  we  call 
faith,  and  sacrifice  to  the  pagan  idols,  they  i  Christians,  to  be  sent  for ;  who  being  mus- 
absolutely  refused  to  do  either.     On  their  i  tered,  I  found  a   considerable  number  of 
refusal,  they  were  condemned   to   be   first  i  them,  against  whom  I  was  more  incensed 
scourged  and  then  beheaded  ;  which  sen-  \  than  I  had  just  cause,  as  I  found  afterward  : 
tence  was    executed  with   all    imaginable  \  for  by  a  marvellous  power,  they  forthwith 
severity.  ?  used  their  endeavors,  not  with  ammunition, 

Of  the  writings  of  this  celebrated  martyr  \  drums,  and  trumpets,  abhorring  such  prep- 
and   great  philosopher,  only  seven  pieces  \  arations    and    furniture,   but   only  praying 
are  now  extant,  viz  :   The  two  Apologies  ;  \  unto,  and  trusting  in  their  God,. whom  they 
An  Exhortation  to  the  Gentiles  ;  An  Ora-  \  carry  about  with  them  in  their  consciences. 
\  tion  to  the  Greeks  ;  A  Treatise  on  Divine  \  It  is  therefore  to  be  believed,  although  we 


R 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


31  ] 


call   them  wicked   men,  that  they  worship 
God  in  their  hearts  ;  for  they,  falling  pros- 
trate  on  the    ground,  prayed,  not   only  for 
me,  but  for  the  army  also  which  was  with 
me,  beseeching  God  to  help  me  in  that  our 
extreme  want   of  victuals  and  fresh  water 
(for  we  had  been  five  days  without  water, 
and  in  our  enemy's  land,  even  in  the  midst 
of   Germany) ;  I    say,    falling    upon    their 
faces,  they  prayed  to  God  unknown  to  me, 
and  immediately  thereupon  fell  from  heaven  < 
a    most    pleasant    and    cold    shower  ;    but 
among   our   enemies    great    store  of  hail, s 
mixed  with  thunder  and  lightning  :   so  that 
we  soon  perceived  the  invincible  aid  of  the  \ 
most  mighty  God  to   be  with  us  ;  therefore  s 
we  give  these  men  leave  to  profess  Chris- 1 
tianity,  lest,  by  their  prayers,  we  be  pun-  < 
ished  by  the  like  ;  and  I  thereby  make  my-  s 
self  the  author  of  all  the  evil  that  shall  ac-  5 
crue  by  the   persecution  of  the   Christian  I 
religion." 

It  appears  that  the  storm  which  so  mi- > 
raculously  flashed  in  the  faces  of  the  enemy 
so  intimidated  them,  that  part  deserted  to 
the  Roman  army ;  the  rest  were  with  ease 
defeated,  and  the  revolted  provinces  were 
entirely  recovered. 

This   affair  occasioned  the   persecution  ? 
to  subside  for  some  time,  at  least  in  those  \ 
parts,  immediately  under  the  inspection  of 
the  emperor  ;  for  we  find  that  it  soon  after 
raged   in    France,   particularly   at   Lyons, 
where  the  tortures    to  which  many  of  the 
Christians    were    put    almost    exceed    the 
powers    of  description.     The    aspersions,  ^ 
false  accusations,  taunts,  threats,  revilings,  ? 
menacings,  which  were  but  forerunners  to  j 
all  manner  of  punishments,  torments,  and  t 
painful    deaths  ;  such   as   being  banished,  t 
plundered,  beaten,  imprisoned,  stoned,  as- 
sassinated,  hanged,   burnt,  &c,  and  even  i 
the  servants  and  slaves  of  opulent    Chris- 
tians were  racked  and  tortured,  to  make 
them  accuse  their  masters  and  employers. 
The   principal  of  these  martyrs  were  the 
following  : — ■  i 

Vetius  Agathus,   a  young  man,  who  >. 

having  boldly  pleaded  the  Christian  cause,  \ 
n  d 


was  asked  if  he  was  a  Christian  ?  To 
which,  answering  in  the  affirmative,  he 
was  condemned  to  death,  and  suffered  the 
crown  of  martyrdom  accordingly.  Many, 
animated  by  this  young  man's  intrepidity, 
boldly  owned  their  faith,  and  suffered  as 
he  had  done. 

Blandinia,  a  Christian,  but  of  a  weak 
constitution,  being  seized  and  tortured  upon 
the  account  of  her  religion,  received  so 
much  strength  from  heaven,  that  her  tor- 
turers became  tired  frequently,  and  were 
surprised  at  her  being  able  to  bear  her  tor- 
ments with  such  resolution,  and  for  so  great 
a  length  of  time. 

Sanctus,  a  deacon  of  Vienna,  was  put 
to  the  torture,  which  he  bore  with  great 
fortitude,  and  only  cried,  "  I  am  a  Chris- 
tian." Red-hot  plates  of  brass  were  placed 
upon  those  parts  of  the  body  that  were 
tenderest,  which  contracted  the  sinews  , 
but  he  remaining  inflexible,  was  reconduct- 
ed to  prison.  Being  brought  out  from  his 
place  of  confinement  a  few  days  afterward, 
his  tormenters  were  astonished  to  find  his 
wounds  healed,  and  his  person  as  perfect 
as  before  they  tormented  him :  they,  how- 
ever, again  proceeded  to  torture  him  ;  but 
not  being  able,  at  that  time,  to  take  away  a 
life  which  was  miraculously  preserved, 
they  only  remanded  him  to  prison,  where 
he  remained  for  some  time  after  ;  and  hav- 
ing had  this  respite,  received  the  crown  of 
martyrdom  by  being  beheaded. 

Biblias,  a  weak  woman,  had  been  an 
apostate,  but  having  returned  to  the  faith 
was  martyred,  and  bore  her  sufferings  with 
great  patience.  Attalus  of  Pergamus,  was 
another  sufferer;  and  Pothinus,  the  venera- 
ble bishop  of  Lyons,  who  was  ninety  years 
of  age,  was  so  unmercifully  treated  by  the 
enraged  pagan  mob,  that  he  expired  two 
days  after  in  prison. 

When  the  Christians,  upon  these  occa- 
sions received  martyrdom,  they  were  orna- 
mented, and  crowned  with  garlands  of 
flowers  ;  for  which  they  in  heaven  received 
eternal  crowns  of  glory. 

The  torments  were  various  ;  and,  exclu- 


32 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MAKTYKOLOGY. 


< 


sive  of  those  already  mentioned,  the  mar- 
tyrs of  Lyons  were  compelled  to  sit  in  red- 
hot  iron  chairs  till  their  (lesh  broiled.  This 
was  inflicted  with  peculiar  severity  on 
Sanctus  already  mentioned,  and  some  oth- 
ers. Some  were  sewed  up  in  nets,  and 
thrown  on  the  horns  of  wild  bulls  ;  and  the 
carcases  of  those  who  died  in  prison  pre- 
vious to  the  appointed  time  of  execution, 
were  thrown  to  dogs.  Indeed,  so  far  did 
the  malice  of  the  pagans  proceed,  that  they 
set  guards  over  the  bodies  while  the  beasts 
were  devouring  them,  lest  the  friends  of 
the  deceased  should  get  them  away  by 
stealth ;  and  the  offals  left  by  the  dogs 
were  ordered  to  be  burned. 

The  martyrs  of  Lyons,  according  to  the 
best  accounts  we  could  obtain,  who  suf- 
fered for  the  gospel,  were  forty-eight  in 
number,  and  their  executions  happened  in 
the  year  of  Christ  177.  They  all  died 
with  great  fortitude  and  serenity  of  mind, 
evidently  evincing  that  they  preferred  the 
everlasting  pleasures  of  an  immortal  and 
happy  life,  to  the  transitory  scenes  of  one 
that  was  precarious,  dashed  with  afflictions, 
and  at  best  but  short  and  fleeting. 

"  Like  to  the  falling  of  a  star, 
Or  as  the  flights  of  eagles  are  ; 
Or  like  the  fresh  spring's  gaudy  hue, 
Or  silver  drops  of  morning  dew  ; 
Or  like  a  wind  that  chafes  the  flood, 
Or  bubbles  which  on  water  stood  ; 
Even  such  is  man,  whose  borrowed  light 
Is  straight  called  in,  and  paid  to  night. 
The  wind  blows  out  ;  the  bubble  dies  ; 
The  spring  entombed  in  autumn  lies; 
The  dew  dries  up  ;  the  star  is  shot  ; 
The  light  is  past,  and  man  forgot." 

Besides  the  above  martyrs  of  Lyons, 
who  are  usually  enumerated  together,  some 
others  suffered  in  that  city,  and  in  the  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  empire  soon  after.  Of 
these  the  principal  were  : — 

Epipodius  and  Alexander,  celebrated 
for  their  great  friendship,  and  their  Chris- 
tian union  with  each  other.  The  first  was 
born  at  Lyons,  the  latter  in  Greece  ;  they 
were  of  mutual  assistance  to  each  other, 
and  prepared  themselves  for  receiving  a 
crown  of  martyrdom  in  this  world,  and  a 
crown  of  glory  in  the  next,  by  the  continual 
practice  of  all  manner  of  Christian  virtues. 


When  the  persecution  began  first  to  rage 
at  Lyons,  they  were  in  the  prime  of  lift, 
and  to  avoid  the  effects  of  its  severities, 
they  thought  proper  to  withdraw  to  a  neigh- 
boring village.  Here  they  were  for  some 
time  concealed  by  a  Christian  widow, 
whose  piety  protected  while  her  obscurity 
gave  a  sanction  to  their  retreat. 

As  they  were  eminent  persons,  the  malice 
of  their  persecutors  sought  after  them  with 
indefatigable  industry,  and  pursued  them 
to  their  place  of  concealment  with  unre- 
mitting assiduity.  Dragged  from  their  re- 
tirement, they  were  committed  to  prison 
without  examination  :  but  their  misfortunes 
did  not  oppress  their  spirits  ;  for,  shielded 
by  the  gospel,  they  were  secure  against  the 
woes  incident  to  this  life. 

"  The  gospel  'tis  which  streaks  the  morning  bright, 
'Tis  this  which  gilds  the  honors  of  the  uight. 
When  wealth  forsakes  us,  or  when  friends  are  few  ;. 
When  friends  arc  faithless,  or  when  foes  pursue  ; 
'Tis  this  u  hich  wards  the  blow,  or  stills  the  smart, 
Disarms  affliction,  or  repels  its  dart ; 
Within  the  breast  bids  purest  raptures  r 
Bids  awful  conscience  spread  her  cloudless  skies. 
When  the  storm  thickens,  and  the  thunders  roll, 
When  the  earth  trembles  to  the  allrighted  pole, 
The  virtuous  mind,  nor  doubts  nor  fears  assail, 
For  storms  are  zephyrs,  or  a  gentler  gale  ; 
But  when  disease  obstructs  the  laboring  breath, 
When  the  pulse  thickens,  and  each  gasp  is  death, 
Even  then  religion  shall  sustain  the  just, 
Grace  their  last  moments,  nor  desert  their  dust." 

Being  at  the  expiration  of  three  days 
brought  before  the  governor,  they  were  ex- 
amined in  the  presence  of  a  crowd  of  pa- 
gans. They  confessed  the  divinity  of 
Christ,  when  the  governor,  being  enraged 
at  what  he  termed  their  insolence,  absurdly 
said,  "  What  signifies  all  the  former  execu- 
tions, if  some  yet  remain  who  dare  ac- 
knowledge Christ !" 

Having  separated  them,  that  they  should 
not  console  with,  or  fortify  each  other,  he 
began  to  tamper  with  Epipodius,  the  young- 
est of  the  two.  With  a  dissembled  kind- 
ness, he  pretended  to  pity  his  condition, 
and  entreated  him  not  u>  ruin  himself  by 
obstinacy.  "  Our  deities,"  continued  he, 
"  are  worshipped  by  the  greater  part  of  the 
people  in  the  universe,  and  their  riders ; 
we  adore  them  with  feasting  and  mirth, 
while  you  adore  a  crucified  man  ;  we,  to 


~K 


honor  them,  launch  into  pleasures  ;  you,  by 
your  faith,  are  debarred  from  all  that  in- 
dulges the  senses.  Our  religion  enjoins 
feasting,  yours  fasting  ;  ours  the  joys  of 
licentious  blandishments,  yours  the  barren 
virtue  of  chastity.  Can  you  expect  pro- 
tection from  one  who  could  not  secure 
himself  from  the  persecutions  of  a  con- 
temptible people  ?  Then  quit  a  profession 
of  such  austerity,  and  enjoy  those  gratifica- 
tions which  the  world  affords,  and  which 
your  youthful  years  demand." 

To  this  illusive  harangue  Epipodius  re- 
plied;  he  contemned  his  compassion,  as  a 
heart    full    of    faith    could    not    want   it. 
"  Your  pretended  tenderness,"  said  he,  "  is 
actual  cruelty  ;  and  the  agreeable  life  you 
describe,  is  replete  with  everlasting  death. j 
Christ   suffered  for  us,  that  our  pleasures 
should  be  immortal,  and  hath  prepared  for  ; 
his    followers    an    eternity  of  bliss.     The  ; 
frame  of  man  being  composed  of  two  parts, ; 
body  and  soul ;  the  first,  as  mean  and  per- ; 
ishable,  should  be  rendered  subservient  to  ; 
the  interests  of  the  last.     Your  idolatrous  ; 
feasts  may  gratify  the  mortal,  but  they  in- ! 
jure  the  immortal  part :  that  can  not  there- ! 
fore   be  enjoying  life   which  destroys  the 
most  valuable  moiety  of  your  frame.     Your 
pleasures   lead  to   eternal  death,  and  our 
pains  to  perpetual  happiness." 

For  this  manly  and  rational  speech, 
Epipodius  was  severely  beaten,  and  then 
put  to  the  rack,  upon  which  being  stretched, 
his  flesh  was  torn  with  iron  hooks.  Hav- 
ing borne  his  torments  with  incredible  pa- 
tience, and  unshaken  fortitude,  he  was  taken 
from  the  rack  and  beheaded. 

Alexander,  the  companion  of  Epipodi- 
us, was  brought  before  the  judge  two  days 
after  the  execution  of  that  excellent  young 
man.  On  his  absolute  refusal  to  renounce 
Christianity,  he  was  placed  upon  the  rack 
and  beat  by  three  executioners,  who  re- 
lieved each  other  alternately.  He  bore 
his  sufferings  with  as  much  fortitude  as 
his  friend  had  done,  and  at  length  received 
the  conclusion  of  his  glorious  martyrdom 
by  being    crucified.     These  martyrs    suf- 


fered A.  D.  179  ;  the  first  on  the  22d  of 
April,  and  the  other  on  the  24th  of  the 
same  month. 

Valerian  and  Marcellus,  who  were 
nearly  related  to  each  other,  were  impris- 
oned at  Lyons  in  the  year  177  for  being 
Christians.  By  some  means,  however,  of 
which  we  are  not  informed,  they  made 
their  escape,  and  travelled  different  ways. 

Marcellus  made  several  converts  in  the 
territories  of  Bezancon  and  Chalons,  but 
being  apprehended,  was  carried  before 
Priscus,  the  governor  of  those  parts. 

That  magistrate,  knowing  Marcellus  to 
be  a  Christian,  ordered  him  to  be  fastened 
to  some  branches  of  a  tree,  which  were 
drawn  down  for  that  purpose.  When  he 
was  tied  to  different  branches,  they  were 
let  go,  with  the  design  that  the  suddenness 
of  the  jerks  might  tear  him  to  pieces. 

This  invention  failing  in  its  proposed 
end,  he  was  conducted  to  Chalons,  to  be 
present  at  some  idolatrous  sacrifices,  at 
which,  refusing  to  assist,  he  was  put  to  the 
torture,  and  afterward  fixed  up  to  the  waist 
in  the  ground  ;  in  which  position,  after  re- 
maining three  days,  he  expired,  A.  D.  179. 

Valerian  was  soon  after  apprehended, 
and  by  the  order  of  Priscus  was  first  put 
to  the  rack,  and  then  beheaded,  in  the  same 
year  as  his  friend  and  relation. 

Much  about  the  same  time  the  following 
martyrs  suffered,  but  we  have  not  any  cir- 
cumstantial or  particular  accounts  of  their 
deaths  : — 


Benignus,  at     -        -         -       Digon. 

Speusippus,  and  others,    -       Langres. 

Androches,       ) 

Thyrseus,         > 

Fexlic,  ) 

Sympoviam,         > 

Fiorella,  ) 

Severinus,       ) 

Felician,  \        > 

Exuperus,        ) 

Cecilia,  the  virgin,    - 

Thraseus,  bishop  of  Phrygia,   Smyrna. 

The  emperor  Antoninus  dying,  was  suc- 
ceeded A.  D.  180,  by  his  son,  Co.wodus, 
who  did  not  seem  to  copy  his  father  in  any 


Salieu. 

Antun. 

Vienna. 
Sicily. 


B. 


34 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


particular.  lie  had  neither  his  virtues  nor 
his  vices  :  he  was  without  his  learning  and 
morality,  and  at  the  same  time  without  his 
prejudices  against  Christianity.  His  prin- 
cipal foible  was  pride,  and  to  this  we 
chiefly  ascribe  the  errors  of  his  reign  ;  for, 
having  taken  it  into  his  head  to  fancy  him- 
self Hercules,  he  sacrificed  those  to  his 
vanity  who  refused  to  subscribe  to  his  ab- 
surdity. 

Apollonius,  a  Roman  senator,  became 
a  martyr  in  his  reign.  This  eminent  per- 
son was  at  once  skilled  in  all  the  polite 
literature  of  those  times,  and  in  all  the 
purest  precepts  taught  by  our  blessed  Re- 
deemer. He  was,  indeed,  an  accomplished 
gentleman,  and  a  sincere  Christian. 

This  worthy  person  was  accused  by  his 
own  slave  Severus,  upon  an  unjust  and 
contradictory,  but  unrepealed  edict,  of  the 
emperor  Trajan's.  This  inconsistent  law 
condemned  the  accused  to  die,  unless  he 
recanted  his  opinion  ;  and  at  the  same  time 
ordered  the  execution  of  the  accuser  for 
calumny. 

Upon  this  ridiculous  statute  was  Apollo- 
nius accused ;  for  though  his  slave  Seve- 
rus knew  he  must  die  for  the  accusation, 
yet  such  was  his  diabolical  malice  and  de- 
sire of  revenge,  that  he  courted  death,  in 
order  to  involve  his  master  in  ruin. 

The  accused  Apollonius  refusing  to  re- 
cant his  opinions,  was,  by  order   of  his 


/  peers,  the  Roman  senators,  to  whom  he 
|  had  appealed,  condemned  to  be  beheaded. 
vThe   sentence  was  executed  on   the    18th 
day  of  April,  A.  D.  186,  his  accuser  hav- 
ing  previously  had  his   legs   broken,  and 
been  put  to  death. 

EUSEBIUS,    VlNCENTIUS,    PoTEXTIANUS, 

and  Peregrinus,  were  all  martyred  for  re- 
fusing to  worship  Commodus  as  Hercules. 
Julius,  a  Roman  senator,  becoming  a 
convert  to  Christianity,  was  ordered  by  the 
emperor  to  sacrifice  to  him  as  Hercules. 
This  Julius  absolutely  refused,  and  publicly 
)  professed  himself  a  Christian.  On  this 
account,  after  remaining  in  prison  a  con- 
siderable time,  he  was,  in  the  year  190, 
pursuant  to  his  sentence,  beat  to  death 
with  cudgels.  Virtue,  whose  essence  is 
religion,  supported  him,  however,  to  the 
last,  and  he  died  a  glorious  martyr  to  the 
truth. 

"  Thine,  virtue  !  thine  is  each  persuasive  charm. 
Thine  every  soul  with  heavenly  raptures  warm  ; 
Thine  all  the  bliss  that  innocence  bestows, 
And  thine  the  heart  that  feels  another's  woes. 
What  though  thy  train  neglected,  or  unknown. 
Have  sought  the  silent  vale,  and  sighed  alone  I 
Though  torrents  streamed  from  every  melting  eye  ? 
Though  from  each  bosom  burst  the  unpitied  sigh  ? 
Though  oft  with  life's  distracting  cares  oppressed, 
They  long  to  sleep  in  everlasting  rest? 
O,  envied  misery  !  what  soft  delight 
Breathed  on  the  mind,  and  smoothed  the  gloom 

of  night, 
When  nobler  prospects,  an  eternal  train, 
Made  rapture  glow  in  every  beating  vein  ; 
When   heaven's  bright   domes   the  smiling   eye 

surveyed, 
And  joys  that  bloomed  more  sweetly  from  the 

shade." 


THE  FIFTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS. 


>HE  emperor  Commodus 
dying  in  the  year  191, 
was  succeeded  by  the 
short-reigned  Perti- 
nax  ;  and  he  again  was 
succeeded  by  the  still 
shorter-reigned  Julianus.  On  the  death 
ol  the  last,  in  the  year  192,  Severus  be- 
came emperor. 


Severus  having  been  recovered  from  a 
severe  fit  of  sickness  by  a  Christian,  be- 
:  came  a  great  favorer  of  Christians  in  gene- 
I  ral ;  and  even  permitted  his  son  Caracalla 
;  to  be  nursed  by  a  female  Christian. 
\  Hence,  during  the  reigns  of  the  two  em- 
!  perors  already  mentioned,  who  successive- 
;  ly  succeeded  Commodus,  and  some  years 
'  of  the   latter's   reign,  the  Christians  were 


B 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


35 


not  persecuted  ;  for  we  find  that  they  had 
a  respite  of  several  years. 

At  length,  however,  the  prejudice  and 
fury  of  the  ignorant  multitude  prevailed,  and 
obsolete  laws  were  revived  and  put  in  ex- 
ecution against  the  Christians. 

The  progress  of  Christianity  alarmed  the 
pagans,  and  they  revived  the  stale  calumny 
of  placing  accidental  misfortunes  to  the  ac- 
count of  its  professors.  Fire,  sword, 
scourges,  wild  beasts,  and  cruel  imprison- 
ments, were  now  used ;  and  even  the  dead 
bodies  of  Christians  were  torn  from  their 
graves  with  pagan  prejudice,  to  be  mangled 
by  popular  fury. 

But  though  persecuting  malice  raged,  yet 
the  gospel  shone  with  resplendent  bright- 
ness, and,  firm  as  an  impregnable  rock, 
withstood  the  attacks  of  its  boisterous  ene- 
mies with  success.  Tertullian,  who 
lived  in  this  age,  informs  us,  that  if  the 
Christians  had  collectively  withdrawn  them- 
selves from  the  Roman  territories,  the  em- 
pire would  have  been  greatly  depopulated. 

Victor,  bishop  of  Rome,  suffered  mar- 
tyrdom in  the  first  year  of  the  third  cen- 
tury, viz:  A.  D.  201,  though  the  circum- 
stances are  not  particularized. 

Leonidas,  the  father  of  the  celebrated 
Origen,  was  beheaded  for  being  a  Chris- 
tian. Previous  to  the  execution,  the  son, 
in  order  to  encourage  him,  wrote  to  him  in 
these  remarkable  words :  "  Beware,  sir, 
that  your  care  for  us  does  not  make  you 
change  your  resolution."  Many  of  Ori- 
gen's  hearers  likewise  suffered  martyrdom  ; 
particularly  two  brothers  named  Plutar- 
chus  and  Serenus  :  another  Serenus, 
Heron,  and  Heraclides,  were  beheaded; 
Rhais  had  boiling  pitch  poured  upon  her 
head,  and  was  then  burnt,  as  was  Marcella, 
her  mother. 

Potamiena,  the  sister  of  Rhais,  was 
executed  in  the  same  manner  as  Rhais  had 
been  ;  but  Basilides,  an  officer  belonging 
to  the  army,  and  one  ordered  to  attend  her 
execution,  became  her  convert. 

Basilides  being,  as  an  officer,  required 


to  take  a  certain  oath,  refused,  saying  that 
he  could  not  swear  by  the  Roman  idols,  as 
he  was  a  Christian.  Struck  with  surprise, 
the  people  could  not  at  first  believe  what 
they  heard  ;  but  he  had  no  sooner  con- 
firmed the  same,  than  he  was  dragged  be- 
fore the  judge,  committed  to  prison,  and 
speedily  afterward  beheaded. 

IreNjEus,  bishop  of  Lyons,  was  born  in 
Greece,  and  received  both  a  polite  and  a 
Christian  education.  It  is  generally  sup- 
^  posed  that  the  account  of  the  persecutions 
at  Lyons  was  written  by  himself.  He  suc- 
ceeded the  martyr  Pothinus  as  bishop  of 
Lyons,  and  ruled  his  diocese  with  great 
propriety:  he  was  a  zealous  opposer  of 
heresies  in  general,  and  about  A.  D.  187, 
wrote  a  celebrated  tract  against  heresy  ; 
and  in  A.  D.  202,  he  was  beheaded. 

Agapetus,  a  boy  of  Praeneste,  in  Italy, 
who  was  only  fifteen  years  of  age,  abso- 
lutely refusing  to  sacrifice  to  the  idols,  was 
severely  scourged,  and  then  hanged  up  by 
the  feet,  and  boiling  water  poured  over 
him.  He  was  afterward  worried  by  wild 
beasts,  and  at  last  beheaded.  The  officer 
named  Antiochus,  who  superintended  this 
execution,  while  it  was  performing  fell 
suddenly  from  his  judicial  seat,  cried  out 
that  his  bowels  bnrnt  him,  and  expired ; 
while  the  martyr  patiently  suffered,  in  hopes 
of  a  glorious  resurrection,  when  the  follow- 
ing picture  shall  be  realized  : — 

"  Roused  from  their  sleep  unnumbered  myriads  come, 
All  waked  at  once,  and  burst  the  yielding  tomb ; 
O'er  the  broad  deep  the  loosened  members  swim  ; 
Each  sweeping  whirlwind  bore  the  flying  limb ; 
The  living  atoms,  with  peculiar  care, 
Drawn  from  their  cells,  came  speeding  thro'  the  air  ; 
Whether  they  lurked  through  ages  undecayed, 
Deep  in  the  rock,  or  clothed  some  smiling  mead ; 
Or  in  the  lily's  snowy  bosom  grew  ; 
Or  tinged  the  sapphire  with  its  lovely  blue  ; 
Or  in  some  purling  stream  refreshed  the  plains  ; 
Or  formed  the  mountain's  adamantine  veins ; 
Or,  gayly  sporting  in  the  breathing  spring, 
Perfumed  the  whispering  zephyr's  balmy  wing : 
All  heard  ;  and  now,  in  fairer  prospect  shown, 
Limb  clung  to  limb,  and  bone  rejoined  its  bone  ; 
Here   stood,  improved  in  strength,  the   graceful 

frame  ; 
There  flowed  the  circling  blood,  a  purer  stream ; 
The  beaming  eye  its  dazzling  light  resumes, 
Soft  on  the  lip  the  tinctured  ruby  blooms ; 
The  beating  pulse  a  keener  ardor  warms, 
And  beauty  triumphs  in  immortal  charms." 


36 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


THE  SIXTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS, 


N  A.  D.  235,  Maximums  being 
emperor,  he  raised  a  persecu- 
tion against  the  Christians. 
In  Cappadocia,  the  president, 
Seremianus,  did  all  he  could 
to  exterminate  the  Christians 
from  that  province. 

A  Roman  soldier,  refusing  to  wear  a 
laurel  crown  bestowed  on  him  by  the  em- 
peror, and  confessing  himself  a  Christian, 
was  scourged,  imprisoned,  and  afterward 
put  to  death. 

Pontianus,  bishop  of  Rome,  for  preach- 
ing against  idolatry,  was  banished  to  Sar- 
dinia, and  there  slain. 

Anteros,  a  Grecian,  who  succeeded 
the  last-mentioned  bishop  in  the  see  of 
Rome,  gave  so  much  offence  to  the  gov- 
ernment, by  collecting  the  acts  of  the  mar- 
tyrs, that  he  suffered  martyrdom  himself, 
after  having  held  his  dignity  only  forty 
days. 

Pammachius,  a  Roman  senator,  with  his 
family,  and  other  Christians  to  the  number 
of  forty-two,  were,  on  account  of  their  re- 
ligion, all  beheaded  in  one  day,  and  their 
heads  set  up  on  the  city  gates. 

Simplicius,  another  senator,  met  with 
exactly  the  same  fate. 

Calepodius,  a  Christian  minister,  after 
being  inhumanly  treated,  and  barbarously 
dragged  about  the  streets,  had  a  millstone 
fastened  about  his  neck,  and  was  thrown 
into  the  river  Tiber.     (See  engraving.) 

Quiritus,  a  Roman  nobleman,  with  his 
family  and  domestics,  were,  on  account  of 
all  being  Christians,  put  to  the  most  ex- 
cruciating tortures,  and  then  to  the  most 
painful  deaths.  Thus  this  nobleman  suf- 
fered the  confiscation  of  his  effects,  pov- 
erty, revilings,  imprisonment,  scourgings, 
tortures,  and  loss  of  his  life,  for  the  sake  of 
his  blessed  Redeemer  ;  well  knowing,  that 

Our  Savior  came  not  with  a  gaudy  show, 
Nor  was  his  kingdom  of  the  world  below : 


Patience  in  want  and  poverty  of  mind, 
These  marks  the  church  of  Christ  designed, 
And  living  taught,  and  dying  left  behind. 
The  crown  he  wore  was  of  the  pointed  thorn, 
In  purple  he  was  crucified,  not  born : 
They  who  contend  for  place  and  high  degree, 
Are  not  his  sons  but  those  of  Zebedee." 

Martina,  a  noble  and  beautiful  virgin, 
likewise  suffered  martyrdom  for  the  sake 
of  Christ,  being  variously  tortured,  and  af- 
terward beheaded. 

Hippolitus,  a  Christian  prelate,  was 
tied  to  a  wild  horse,  and  dragged  through 
fields,  stony  places,  bushes,  &c,  till  he 
expired. 

During  this  persecution,  raised  by  Max- 
iminus,  numberless  Christians  were  slain 
without  trial,  and  buried  indiscriminately 
in  heaps  ;  sometimes  fifty  or  sixty  being 
cast  into  a  pit  together,  without  the  least 
decency. 

The  tyrant  Maximinus  dying,  A.  D.  238, 
was  succeeded  by  Gordian,  during  whose 
reign,  and  that  of  his  successor,  Philip,  the 
church  was  free  from  persecution  for  the 
space  of  more  than  ten  years ;  but  A.  D. 
249,  a  violent  persecution  broke  out  in 
Alexandria.  It  is  to  be  observed,  however, 
that  this  wras  done  at  the  instigation  of  a 
pagan  priest,  without  the  knowledge  of  the 
emperor. 

The  popular  fury  being  let  loose  against 
the  Christians,  the  mob  broke  open  their 
houses,  stole  away  the  best  of  their  prop- 
erty, destroyed  the  rest,  and  murdered  the 
owners  :  the  universal  cry  being,  "  Burn 
'em,  burn  em;  kill  'em,  kill  'em."  The 
names  of  the  martyrs  (three  excepted)  and 
the  particulars  of  this  affair,  however,  have 
not  been  transmitted  to  posterity. 

The  three  martyrs  alluded  to  were  the 
following : — 

Metrus,  an  aged  and  venerable  Chris- 
tian, refusing  to  blaspheme  his  Savior,  was 
beaten  with  clubs,  pricked  with  sharp 
reeds,  and  at  length  stoned  to  death. 

Quinta,  a  Christian  woman,  being  car- 


CALIPODIUS    THROWN    INTO    THE    RIVER    TIBER. Pa«-e  37. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


39 


|  ried  to  the  temple,  and  refusing  to  worship  $  meant  to  recant,  when,  to  their  great  sur- 
>  the  idols  there,  was  dragged  by  her  feet  prise,  she  immediately  threw  herself  into 
J  over    sharp    flint-stones,    scourged     with  j  the  flames  and  was  there  consumed  ;  which 

whips,  and  at  last  despatched  in  the  same  \  plainly  evinced    that    she    contemned  the 

manner  as  Metrus.  \  fears  of  death,  and  trusted  to  a  lasting  fu- 

Apollonia,  an  ancient  maiden  lady,  con-  $  ture  reward,  for  a  temporary  punishment 

fessing  herself  a  Christian,  the  mob  dashed  >  in  this  life. 

out  her  teeth  with  their  fists,  and  threatened  i 

to  burn  her  alive. 


A  fire  was  accordingly  i 


prepared  for  the  purpose,  and  she  fastened  < 
to  a  stake  ;  but  requesting  to  be  unloosed,  < 
it  was  granted,  on  a  supposition  that   she  \ 


Submit  thy  fate  to  Heaven's  indulgent  care, 
Though  all  seem  lost,  'tis  impious  to  despair: 
The  tracks  of  Providence,  like  rivers,  wind. 
Here  run  before  us,  there  retreat  behind  : 
And  though  immerged  in  earth  from  human  eyes, 
Again  break  forth,  and  more  conspicuous  rise." 


THE  SEVENTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS. 


ECIUS  being  now  emperor 
of  Rome,  began  a  dread- 
ful persecution  against 
the  Christians,  A.  D.  249. 
This  was  occasioned, 
partly  by  the  hatred  he 
bore  to  his  predecessor,  Philip,  who  was 
deemed  a  Christian,  and  partly  to  his 
jealousy  concerning  the  amazing  increase 
of  Christianity ;  fur  the  heathen  temples 
began  to  be  forsaken,  and  the  Christian 
churches  thronged. 

These  reasons  stimulated  Decius  to  at- 
tempt the  very  extirpation  of  the  name  of 
Christian ;  and  it  was  unfortunate  for  the 
cause  of  the  gospel,  that  many  errors  had 
about  this  time  crept  into  the  church :  the 
Christians  were  at  variance  with  each 
other ;  self-interest  divided  those  whom 
social  love  ought  to  have  united ;  and  the 
virulence  of  pride  occasioned  a  variety  of 
factions. 

The  heathens,  in  general,  were  ambi- 
tious to  enforce  the  imperial  decrees  upon 
this  occasion,  and  looked  upon  the  murder 
of  a  Christian  as  a  merit  in  themselves. 
The  martyrs,  upon  this  occasion,  were  in- 
numerable ;  but  of  the  principal  we  shall 
give  some  account  in  their  order. 

Fabian,  the  bishop  of  Rome,  was   the 


first  person  of  eminence  who  felt  the  se- 
verity of  this  persecution.  The  deceased 
emperor  Philip  had,  on  account  of  his  in- 
tegrity, committed  his  treasures  to  the  care 
of  this  good  man.  But  Decius,  not  finding 
as  much  as  his  avarice  made  him  expect, 
determined  to  wreak  his  vengeance  on  the 
good  prelate.  He  was  accordingly  seized, 
and  on  the  20th  of  January,  A.  D.  250, 
suffered  martyrdom,  by  being  beheaded. 

Abdon  and  Semen,  two  Persians,  were 
seized  on  as  strangers ;  but  being  found 
Christians,  were  put  to  death,  on  account 
of  their  faith ;  and  Moyses,  a  priest  was 
beheaded  for  the  same  reason. 

Julian,  a  native  of  Celicia,  as  we  are 
informed  by  St.  Chrysostom,  was  seized 
upon  for  being  a  Christian.  He  was  fre- 
quently tortured,  but  still  remained  inflexi- 
ble ;  and  though  often  brought  from  prison 
for  execution,  was  again  remanded  to  be 
the  object  of  greater  cruelties.  He  at 
length  was  obliged  to  travel  for  twelve 
months  together,  from  town  to  town,  in 
order  to  be  exposed  to  the  insults  of  the 
ignorant  populace. 

Finding  the  endeavors  to  make  him  re- 
cant his  religion  ineffectual,  he  was  brought 
before  his  judge,  stripped,  and  whipped  in 
a  most   dreadful    manner.     He  was   then 


40 


THE  CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


— -a 


put   into   a  leathern    bag,  together  with  a    to  gratify  his  revenge,  as  he  could  not  his  ( 


number  of  serpents  and  scorpions,  and  in 
that  condition  thrown  into  the  sea. 


passion. 

Pursuant  to  his  orders  she  was  scourged, 


Agatha,  a  Sicilian  lady,  was  not  more  ;  burnt  with   red-hot   irons,   and    torn   with 
remarkable  for  her  personal  and  acquired    sharp   hooks.      Having  borne    these    tor- 
endowments,  than   her  piety:  her   beauty  l  ments   with  admirable  fortitude,  she    was 
was  such,  that  Quintain,  governor  of  Sicily,  \  next  laid  naked  upon   live  coals  intermin-  ; 
$  became  enamored  of  her,  and  made  many  <  gled  with   glass,   and   then  beino-   carried 


\  attempts  upon  her  chastity 


\  back   to  prison,  she  there  expired  on  the 


As  the  governor  was  reputed  to  be  a  ■■  5th  of  February,  251. 
>  great  libertine,  and  a  bigoted  pagan,  the  >  Alexander,  bishop  of  Jerusalem,  about 
';  lady  very  discreetly  thought  proper  to  ;.  this  time  was  cast  into  prison  on  account 
withdraw  from  two  such  dangerous  enemies  ''  of  his  religion,  where  he  died,  by  the  se- 
\  as  lust  and  superstition.  She  accordingly  \  verity  of  his  confinement. 
I  retired  from  the  town,  but  being  discovered  I  Serapian,  being  apprehended  at  Alexan- 
;  in  her  retreat,  she  was  seized,  and  brought  ]  dria,  had  all  his  bones  broken,  and  was 
<  to  Catana.  s  then  thrown  from  a  high  loft,  when  he  was 

I       Finding  herself  thus  in  the  power  of  an  )  killed  by  the  fall. 

]  enemy,  both  to  her  soul  and  body,  she  I  Julianus,  an  old  man,  lame  with  the 
\  recommended  herself  to  the  protection  of  '/  gout,  and  Cronion,  another  Christian,  were 
\  the  Almighty,  and  prayed  for  death,  as   a  \  bound  on   the  backs  of   camels,  severely 

<  scourged,  and  then  thrown  into  a  fire  and 


relief  from  her  miseries. 

The  governor,  in  order  to  gratify  his  j  consumed.  A  person  who  stood  bv,  and 
passions  with  the  greater  conveniency,  put  >  seemed  to  commiserate  them,  was  ordered 
the  virtuous  lady  into  the  hands  of  Aphrod-  /  to  be  beheaded,  as  a  punishment  for  enter- 
ica,  a  very  infamous  and  licentious  wo- )  taining  sentiments  of  too  tender  a  nature, 
man.  This  wretch  tried  every  artifice  to  ?  Macar,  a  Lybian  Christian,  was  burnt ; 
win  her  to  the  desired  prostitution,  but  >t  Heron-Ater  and  Isidores,  Egyptians, 
found   all   her  efforts  were   vain  ;  for  her  t  with   Dioschorus,  a  boy  of  fifteen,  after 


happiness. 

"  Know  then  this  truth  (enough  for  man  to  know), 
Virtue  alone  is  happiness  below  ! 
That  only  point  where  human  bliss  stands  still, 
And  tastes  the  good,  without  the  fall  to  ill ; 
Where  only  merit  constant  pay  receives, 
Is  blessed  in  what  it  takes,  and  what  it  gives ; 
The  joy  unequalled,  if  its  end  it  gain, 
And  if  it  lose,  attended  with  no  pain  : 
Without  satiety,  though  e'er  so  blessed, 
And  but  more  relished,  as  the  more  distressed: 
The  broadest  mirth  unfeeling  folly  wears 
Less  pleasing  far  than  virtue's  very  tears  : 
Good  from  each  object,  from  each  place  acquired, 
For  ever  exercised,  yet  never  tired  ; 
Never  elated,  while  one  man's  oppressed  ; 
Never  dejected,  while  another's  blessed: 
And  where  no  wants,  no  wishes  can  remain, 
Since  but  to  wish  more  virtue,  is  to  gain." 


>  that   she   was   a  Christian,  he  determined  <  three,    after   having   been    tortured,    were 


]  chastity  was  impregnable,  and  she  well  >  suffering  many  other  torments,  met  with  a 
>  knew  that  virtue  alone  could  procure  true  ^  similar  fate  ;  and  Nemesion,  another  Egyp- 
tian, was  first  tried  as  a  thief;  but  being 
^acquitted,  was  accused  of  Christianity, 
(  which  confessing,  he  was  scourged,  tor- 
\  tured,  and  burnt. 

|  Isehyrian,  the  Christian  servant  of  an 
Egyptian  nobleman  and  magistrate,  was 
run  through  with  a  pike  by  his  own  mas- 
ter, for  refusing  to  sacrifice  to  idols;  Ye- 
nantius,  a  youth  of  fifteen,  was  martyred 
in  Italy  ;  and  forty  virgins  at  Antioch,  after  \ 
being  imprisoned  and  scourged,  were  burnt.  > 

Secundianus  having  been  accused  as  a 
Christian,  was  conveyed  to  prison  by  some  \ 
Aphrodica  acquainted  Quintain  with  the  S  soldiers.      On    the    way,    Veriaxus    and   i 
ineflicacy  of  her  endeavors,  who,  enraged  \  Marcellinus  said,  "  Where  are  ye  carry- 
10  be  foiled    in  his   designs,  changed  his  \  ing   the    innocent?"      This    interrogatory  I 
lust  into  resentment.     On  her  confessing  \  occasioned    them    to    be    seized,    and    all  j 


B 


1 


»■ 


m 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


41 


<  hanged  ;  and  when  dead  their  heads  were 

<  cut  off. 

Cyril,  bishop   of  Gortyna,  was   seized 

<  by  order  of  Lucius,  the   governor  of  that 

<  place,  who,  nevertheless,  exhorted  him  to 
I  obey  the  imperial  mandate,  perform  the 
i  sacrifices,  and  save  his  venerable   person 

<  from  destruction,  for  he  was  now  eighty- 

<  four  years   of  age.     The  good  prelate  re- 
plied that  he  could   not  agree  to  any  such 

<  requisitions. 

J  The  governor  then  pronounced  sentence 
\  against  the  venerable  Christian  in  these  re- 

<  markable  words  : — 

i       "  /  order  and  appoint,  that  Cyril,  who  has  j 

<  lost  his  senses,  and  is  a  declared  enemy  of 
\  our  gods,  shall  be  burnt  alive." 

The  worthy  prelate  heard  this  sentence 
\  without  emotion,  walked  cheerfully  to  the 

<  place  of  execution,  and  underwent  his  mar- 
\  tyrdom  with  great  fortitude. 

Origen,  the  celebrated  presbyter  and 
5  catechist  of  Alexandria,  at  the  age  of 
\  sixty-four,  was  seized,  thrown  into  a  loath- 

<  some  prison,  laden  with  heavy  fetters,  his 
|  feet  placed  in  the  stocks,  and  his  legs  ex- 
|  tended  to  the  utmost  for  several  successive 
|  days.  He  was  threatened  with  fire,  and 
;  tormented  by  every  means  that  the  most 
!  infernal  imaginations  could  suggest.  But 
'/  unappalled  with  dangers,  and  unshaken  by 
>  sufferings,  his  Christian  fortitude  bore  him 
)  through  all.  Indeed,  such  was  the  rigor 
.  of  his  judge,  that  his  tortures  were  ordered 
<;  to  be  lingering,  that  death  might  not  too 
't  soon  put  a  period  to  his  miseries.  During 
t  this  cruel  temporizing,  the  emperor  Decius 
|  died,  and  Gallus,  who  succeeded  him,  en- 
X  gaging  in  a  war  with  the  Goths,  the  Chris- 
\  tians  met  with  a  respite.  In  this  interim 
\  Origen  obtained  his  enlargement,  and  re- 
|  tiring  to  Tyre,  he  there  remained  till  his 
X  death,  which  happened  when  he  was  in 
\  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Gallus,  the  emperor,  having  concluded '. 
I  his  wars,  a  plague  broke  out  in  the  empire 
|  sacrifices  to  the  pagan  deities  were  ordered 
X  by  the   emperor,  and  superstition  immedi- 
\  ately  bowed  the  knee  to  idols. 


The  Christians,  refusing  to  comply  with 
these  rites,  were  charged  with  being  au- 
thors of  the  calamity.  Hence  the  storm 
of  persecution  spread  from  the  interior  to 
the  extreme  parts  of  the  empire,  and  many 
fell  martyrs  to  the  impetuosity  of  the  rab- 
ble, as  well  as  the  prejudice  of  the  magis- 
trates. 

Cornelius,  the  Christian  bishop  of 
Rome,  was  among  others  seized  upon  this 
occasion.  He  was  first  banished  to  Cen- 
tum-Cellae,  or  Civita-Vecchia,  as  it  is  now 
called ;  and  after  having  been  cruelly 
scourged,  was,  on  the  14th  of  September, 
252,  beheaded,  after  having  been  bishop 
fifteen  months  and  ten  days. 

Lucius,  who  succeeded  Cornelius  as 
bishop  of  Rome,  was  the  son  of  Porphyrius, 
and  a  Roman  by  birth.  His  vigilance,  as 
a  pastor,  rendered  him  obnoxious  to  the 
foes  of  Christianity,  which  occasioned  him 
to  be  banished  ;  but  in  a  short  time  he  was 
permitted  to  return  from  exile. 

Not  long  after,  however,  he  was  appre- 
hended, after  having  been  bishop  about  six 
months,  and  beheaded  March  4,  A.  D.  253. 
This  bishop  was  succeeded  by  Stephanus, 
a  man  of  a  fiery  temper,  who  held  the  dig- 
nity a  few  years,  and  might  probably  have 
fallen  a  martyr,  had  not  the  emperor  been  X 
murdered  by  his  general  iEmilian,  when  a 
profound  peace  succeeded  throughout  the 
whole  empire,  and  the  persecution  of  course 
ceased. 

Most  of  the  errors  which  crept  into  the 
church  at  this  time  arose  from  placing  hu- 
man reason  in  competition  with  revelation  ; 
but  the  fallacy  of  such  arguments  being 
proved  by  the  most  able  divines,  the  opin- 
ions they  had  created  vanished  away  like 
stars  before  the  sun. 


"  Dim  as  the  borrowed  beams  of  moon  and  stars, 
To  lonely,  weary,  wandering-  travellers, 
Is  reason  to  the  soul ;  and  as  on  high, 
Those  rolling  fires  discover  but  the  sky, 
Nor  light  us  here  ;  so  reason's  glimmering  ray 
Was  lent,  not  to  assure  our  doubtful  way, 
But  guide  us  upward  to  a  better  day. 
And  as  those  nightly  tapers  disappear, 
When  day's  bright  lord  ascends  our  hemisphere,      ) 
So  pale  grows  reason  at  religion's  sight ; 
So  dies,  and  so  dissolves  in  supernatural  light."        j 


H 


42 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


THE  EIGHTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS. 


FTER  the  death  of  Gallus, 
iEmilian,  the  general,  not 
being  properly  supported 
by  the  army,  was  slain, 
and  Valerian  elected  to 
the  empire. 

For  the  space  of  four  years  this  emperor 
governed  with  moderation,  and  treated  the 
Christians  with  peculiar  lenity  and  respect. 
But,  A.  D.  257,  an  Egyptian  magician, 
named  Macrianus,  gained  a  great  ascen- 
dency over  him,  and  persuaded  him  to  per- 
secute the  Christians. 

Edicts  being  published,  the  ungovern- 
able rage  of  ignorance  and  superstition  was 
let  loose  against  the  Christians.  The  per- 
secution began  in  the  month  of  April,  and 
continued  for  three  years  and  six  months. 

The  martyrs  that  fell  in  this  persecution 
were  innumerable,  and  their  tortures  and 
deaths  as  various  and  painful.  The  most 
eminent  martyrs  were  the  following,  though 
neither  rank,  sex,  or  age,  was  regarded  : — 

Rufina  and  Secunda,  were  two  beau- 
tiful and  accomplished  ladies,  daughters  of 
Asterius,  a  gentleman  of  eminence  in  Rome. 
Rufina,  the  elder,  was  designed  in  marriage 
for  Armentarius,  a  young  nobleman ;  and 
Secunda,  the  younger,  for  Verinus,  a  per- 
son of  rank  and  opulence. 

The  suitors,  at  the  time  of  the  persecu- 
tion's commencing,  were  both  Christians  ; 
but  when  danger  appeared,  to  save  their 
fortunes,  they  renounced  their  faith.  They 
took  great  pains  to  persuade  the  ladies  to 
do  the  same,  but  failed  in  their  purpose. 
Rufina  and  Secunda,  though  too  just  to 
change  their  religious  sentiments,  were  too 
diffident  of  their  own  strength  to  remain 
longer  the  objects  of  such  solicitations  ;  on 
which  account  they  left  the  city. 

Disappointed  in  their  purpose,  the  lovers 
were  base  enough  to  inform  against  the 
ladies,  who  being  apprehended  as  Chris- 


tians, were  brought  before  Junius  Donatus, 
governor  of  Rome. 

Being  inflexible  to  all  remonstrances, 
and  having  passed  through  several  tortures, 
they,  A.  D.  257,  sealed  their  martyrdom 
with  their  blood,  by  being  beheaded. 

Stephen,  bishop  of  Rome,  was  behead- 
ed in  the  same  year  ;  and  about  that  time 
Saturninus,  bishop  of  Thoulouse,  was 
set  upon  and  seized  by  the  rabble  of  that 
place,  for  preventing,  as  they  alleged,  their 
oracles  from  speaking.  On  refusing  to 
sacrifice  to  the  idols,  he  was  treated  with 
all  the  barbarous  indignities  imaginable, 
and  then  fastened  by  the  feet  to  the  tail  of 
a  bull.  Upon  a  signal  given,  the  enraged 
animal  was  driven  down  the  steps  of  the 
temple,  by  which  the  worthy  martyr's 
brains  were  dashed  out.  The  small  num- 
ber  of  Christians   in   Thoulouse  had   not 


courage  sufficient  to  carry  off  the  dead 
body,  till  two  women  conveyed  it  away, 
and  deposited  it  in  a  deep  ditch. 

This  martyr  was  a  most  orthodox  and 
j  worthy  primitive  Christian,  and  his  doc- 
trines are  to  be  firmly  depended  upon.  (See 
engraving.) 

Sextus  succeeded  Stephen  as  bishop 
of  Rome.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  a 
Greek  by  birth,  or  by  extraction,  and  had 
for  some  time  served  in  the  capacity  of  a 
deacon  under  Stephen.  His  great  fidelity 
singular  wisdom,  and  uncommon  courage, 
distinguished  him  upon  many  occasions ; 
and  the  happy  conclusion  of  a  controversy 
with  some  heretics,  is  generally  ascribed 
to  his  piety  and  prudence. 

In  the  year  258,  Marcianus,  who  had 
the  management  of  the  Roman  government, 
procured  an  order  from  the  emperor  Valeri- 
an, to  put  to  death  all  the  Christian  clergy 
in  Rome. 

The  senate  testifying  their  obedience  to 
the  imperial  mandate,  Sextus  was  one  of 


SATURNIUS    FASTENED    TO    A    BULL. — Page    43. 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


45 


the  first  who  felt  the  severity  of  the  rescript. 
Cyprian  tells  us  that  he  was  beheaded 
August  6,  258.  We  are  likewise  inform- 
ed that  six  of  his  deacons  suffered  with 
him. 

Laurentius,  generally  called  St.  Lau- 
rence, the  principal  of  the  deacons,  who 
taught  and  praached  under  Sextus,  follow- 
ed him  to  the  place  of  execution  ;  when 
Sextus  predicted,  that  he  should,  three 
days  after,  meet  him  in  heaven. 

Laurentius  looking  upon  this  as  a  cer- 
tain indication  of  his  own  approaching 
martyrdom,  at  his  return  gathered  together 
all  the  Christian  poor,  and  distributed  the 
treasures  of  the  church,  which  had  been 
committed  to  his  care  among  them,  think- 
ing the  money  could  not  be  better  disposed 
of,  or  less  liable  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  pagans. 

This  liberality  alarmed  the  persecutors, 
who  seized  on  him  to  make  a  discovery 
whence  it  arose,  and  commanded  him  to 
give  an  immediate  account  to  the  emperor 
of  the  church  treasures. 

He  promised  he  would  do  this,  but  beg- 
ged a  short  respite  to  put  things  in  proper 
order ;  when  three  days  being  granted 
him,  he  was  suffered  to  depart ;  where- 
upon, with  great  diligence,  he  collected  to- 
gether a  great  number  of  aged,  helpless, 
and  impotent  poor ;  he  repaired  to  the 
magistrate,  and  presenting  them  to  him 
said,  "  These  are  the  true  treasures  of  the 
church." 

Incensed  at  the  disappointment,  and  fan- 
cying the  matter  meant  in  ridicule,  the 
governor  ordered  him  to  be  immediately 
scourged.  He  was  then  beaten  with  iron 
rods,  set  upon  a  wooden  horse,  and  had 
his  limbs  dislocated. 

These  tortures  he  endured  with  fortitude 
and  perseverance  ;  when  he  was  ordered 
to  be  fastened  to  a  large  gridiron,  with  a 
slow  fire  under  it,  that  his  death  might  be 
the  more  lingering. 

His  astonishing  constancy  during  these 
trials,  and  serenity  of  countenance  while 
under  such  excruciating  torments,  gave  the 


I  spectators  so  exalted  an  idea  of  the  dignity 
I  and  truth  of  the  Christian  religion,  that 
many  became  converts  upon  the  occasion. 
After  lying  for  some  time  upon  this 
burning  bed,  the  martyr  called  out  to  the 
emperor,  who  was  present,  in  a  kind  of 
jocose  distich,  made  extempore,  which  may 
be  thus  translated  : — 

"  This  side  enough  is  toasted, 

Then  turn  me,  tyrant,  and  eat ; 
And  see,  whether  raw  or  roasted 
I  seem  the  better  meat." 

The  executioner  turned  him  accordingly, 
and  after  having  laid  a  considerable  time 
longer,  he  had  still  strength  and  spirits  suf- 
ficient left  to  triumph  over  the  tyrant,  by 
telling  him,  with  great  serenity,  that  he 
was  dressed  enough,  and  only  wanted 
serving  up.  He  then  cheerfully  lifted  up 
his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  with  calmness 
yielded  his  spirit  to  the  Almighty,  on 
August  10,  A.  D.  258. 

Romanus,  a  soldier  who  attended  the 
martyrdom  of  Laurentius,  was  one  of  the 
]  converts  to  his  sufferings  and  fortitude  ;  for 
he  could  not  help  feeling  the  greatest  vene- 
ration for  a  God  who  inspired  his  votaries 
with  such  courage,  and  rendered  his  mar- 
tyrs superior  to  all  the  cruelties  of  their 
persecutors. 

The  brave  Romanus,  when  the  martyr 
Laurentius  was  remanded  to  prison,  took 
that  opportunity  of  fully  inquiring  into  the 
nature  of  the  Christian  faith ;  and  being 
entirely  satisfied  by  Laurentius,  became 
firmly  a  Christian,  received  his  baptism 
from  the  captive,  and  seemed  to  have  his 
mind  impressed  with  a  lively  idea  of  the 
kingdom  of  Christ ;  a  kingdom  replete  with 
eternal  joys  and  everlasting  happiness. 

In  Africa  the  persecution  raged  with  pe- 
culiar violence  ;  many  thousands  received 
the  crown  of  martyrdom,  among  whom  the 
following  were  the  most  distinguished 
characters : — 

Cyprian,  bishop  of  Carthage,  was  an 
eminent  prelate,  and  a  pious  ornament  of 
the  church.  The  brightness  of  his  genius 
was  tempered  by  the  solidity  of  his  judg- 


a 


46 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


ment ;  and  with  all  the  accomplishments 
of  the  gentleman  he  blended  the  virtues  of 
the  Christian.  His  doctrines  were  ortho- 
dox and  pure  ;  his  language  easy  and  ele- 
gant; and  his  manners  graceful  and  win- 
ning:  in  fine,  he  was  both  the  pious  and 
polite  preacher.     Indeed,  an  easy  delivery, 


I  and  polished  manner,  are  requisite  in  every  j 

1  preacher  who  would  make  an  impression  j 

Ion  the  hearts  of  his  audience.     This  was  \ 

1  the  practice  of  St.  Paul,  and  this  was  tho  } 

accomplishment  of  Cyprian. 

The  latter,  it  is  said,  was  so  perfectly  a  j 

master  of  the  rules   of  rhetoric,  and   the 


CYPRIAN  (died  in  the  year  259) 


precepts  of  logic,  and  so  complete  in  the 
practice  of  elocution,  and  the  principles 
of  philosophy,  that  he  was  made  professor  j 
of  those  sciences  in  his  native  city  of  Car- 
thage, where  he  became  so  popular,  and 
taught  with  such  success,  that  many  of  his 
students  afterward  became  shining  orna- 
ments of  polite  learning. 

In  his  youth  he  was  educated  in  the 
principles  of  gentilism,  and  having  a  con- 
siderable fortune,  he  lived  in  the  very  ex- 
travagance of  splendor,  and  all  the  dignity 
of  pomp.  Gorgeous  in  attire,  luxurious  in 
feasting,  vain  of  a  numerous  retinue,  and 
fond  of  every  kind  of  fashionable  parade, 
he  seemed  to  fancy  that  man  was  born  to 
gratify  all  his  appetites,  and  created  for 
pleasure  alone. 

'  Pleasure  but  cheats  us  with  an  empty  name, 
Still  seems  to  vary,  yet  is  still  the  same  ; 
Amusements  all  its  utmost  skill  can  boast, 
By  use  it  lessens,  and  in  thought  is  lost." 


About  the  yeai  246,  Coelius,  a  Christian 
minister  of  Carthage,  became  the  happy 
instrument  of  Cyprian's  conversion ;  on 
which  account,  and  for  the  great  love  that 
he  always  afterward  bore  for  the  author  of 
his  conversion,  he  was  termed  Cceciliui 
Cyprian. 

Previous  to  his  baptism  he  studied  the 
Scriptures  with  care,  and  being  struck 
with  the  beauties  of  the  truths  they  contain- 
ed, he  determined  to  practise  the  virtues 
therein  recommended.  Subsequent  to  his 
baptism  he  sold  his  estate,  distributed  the 
money  among  the  poor,  dressed  himself  in 
plain  attire,  and  commenced  a  life  of  aus- 
terity. 

He  was  soon  after  made  a  presbyter ; 
and  being  greatly  admired  for  his  virtues, 
and  his  works,  on  the  death  of  Donatus,  in 
A.  D.  248,  he  was  almost  unanimously 
elected  bishop  of  Carthage. 


» 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


47 


A.  D.  250,  Cyprian  was  publicly  pro- 
scribed by  the  emperor  Decius,  under  the 
appellation  of  Cascilius  Cyprian,  bishop  of 
the  Christians ;  and  the  universal  cry  of 
the  pagans  was,  "  Cyprian  to  the  lions ! 
Cyprian  to  the  beasts  !" 

The  bishop,  however,  withdrew  himself 
from  the  rage  of  the  populace,  and  his  ef- 
fects were  immediately  confiscated. 

During  his  retirement  he  wrote  thirty 
pious  and  elegant  letters  to  his  flock  ;  but 
several  schisms  that  then  crept  into  the 
church  gave  him  great  uneasiness.  The 
rigor  of  the  persecution  abating,  he  returned 
to  Carthage,  and  did  everything  in  his 
power  to  expunge  erroneous  opinions. 

A  terrible  plague  breaking  out  at  Car- 
thage, it  was,  as  usual,  laid  to  the  charge 
of  the  Christians  ;  and  the  magistrates  be- 


gan to  persecute  accordingly,  which  oc- 
casioned an  epistle  from  them  to  Cyprian, 
in  answer  to  which  he  vindicates  the  cause 
of  Christianity. 

A.  D.  257,  Cyprian  was  brought  before 
the  pro-consul  Aspasius  Paternus,  when 
being  commanded  to  conform  to  the  reli- 
gion of  the  empire,  he  boldly  made  a  con- 
fession of  his  faith,  and  owned  himself  a 
Christian.  This  confession,  however,  did 
not  occasion  his  death,  but  an  order  for  his 
banishment,  which  exiled  him  to  a  little 
city  on  the  Lybian  sea.  On  the  death  of 
the  pro-consul  who  banished  him,  he  re- 
turned to  Carthage,  bnt  was  soon  after 
seized  and  carried  before  the  new  gover- 
nor, who  condemned  him  to  be  beheaded, 
which  sentence  was  executed  on  the  14th 
of  September,  A.  D.  258. 


THE  NINTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS. 


HE  emperor  Aurelian,  A.  D. 
274,  commenced  a  perse- 
cution against  the  Chris- 
tians ;  the  principal  suf- 
ferers being 

Felix,  bishop  of  Rome. 
This  prelate  was  advanced  to  the  Roman 
see  in  274.  He  was  the  first  martyr  to 
Aurelian's  petulancy,  being  beheaded  on 
the  22d  of  September,  in  the  same  year. 

Agapetus,  a  young  gentleman  who  sold 

his  estate  and  gave  the  money  to  the  poor, 

was   seized  as   a   Christian,  tortured,  and 

then  beheaded  at  Praeneste,  a   city  within 

a  day's  journey  of  Rome. 

|       These   are  the   only  martyrs  left  upon 

;  record  during  this  reign,  as  it  was  soon 

j  put  a  stop  to  by  the  emperor's  being  mur- 

\  dered  by  his  own  domestics  at  Byzantium. 

Aurelian  was  succeeded  by  Tacitus,  who 

\  was  followed  by  Probus,  as  the  latter  was 

'  by  Carus  :  this  emperor  being  killed  by  a 

thunder-storm,  his  sons,  Carnius  and  Nu- 


merian,  succeeded  him ;  and  during  all 
these  reigns  the  church  had  peace. 

Dioclesian  mounting  the  imperial  throne, 
A.  D.  284,  at  first  showed  great  favor  to  the 
Christians.  In  the  year  286  he  associated 
Maximian  with  him  in  the  empire  ;  and 
some  Christians  were  put  to  death  before 
any  general  persecution  broke  out.  Among 
these  were 

Felician  and  Primus,  two  brothers. 
These  Christians  were  seized  by  an  order 
from  the  imperial  court :  they  owned  them- 
selves Christians,  and  were  accordingly 
scourged,  tortured,  and  at  length  beheaded. 

Tiburtius,  a  native  of  Rome,  was  de- 
scended from  a  considerable  family ;  not 
that  any  merit  was  due  to  him  on  that  ac- 
count, for 

"  Those  who  on  glorious  ancestry  enlarge, 
Produce  their  debt  instead  of  their  discharge." 

Being  accused  as  a  Christian,  he  was 
commanded  either  to  sacrifice  to  idols,  or 
to  walk  upon   burning  coals.     He   chose 


48 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MAKTYROLOGY. 


the  latter,  and  passed  over  them  without 
damage,  when  Fabian  passed  sentence 
upon  him  that  he  should  be  beheaded  ; 
which  sentence  was  performed  in  the 
|  month  of  August,  A.  D.  286,  and  his  body- 
was  afterward  buried  by  some  Christians. 

In  the  year  of  Christ  286,  a  most  re- 
markable affair  occurred  :  a  legion  of  sol- 
diers, consisting  of  6,666  men,  contained 
none  but  Christians.  This  legion  was 
called  the  Theban  legion,  because  the  men 
had  been  raised  in  Thebaus :  they  were 
quartered  in  the  east  till  the  emperor  Max- 
imian  ordered  them  to  march  to  Gaul,  to 
assist  him  against  the  rebels  of  Burgundy. 

They  passed  the  Alps  into  Gaul,  under 
the  command  of  Mauritius,  Candidus,  and 
Exupernis,  their  worthy  commanders,  and 
at  length  joined  the  emperor. 

Maximian,  about  this  time,  ordered  a 
general  sacrifice,  at  which  the  whole  army 
were  to  assist ;  and  likewise  he  command- 
ed that  they  should  take  oaths  of  allegiance, 
and  swear  at  the  same  time  to  assist  him  in 
the  extirpation  of  Christianity  in  Gaul. 

Alarmed  at  these  orders,  each  individual 
of  the  Theban  legion  absolutely  refused 
either  to  sacrifice,  or  take  the  oaths  pre- 
scribed. This  so  greatly  enraged  Max- 
imian, that  he  ordered  the  legion  to  be 
decimated,  that  is,  every  tenth  man  to  be 
selected  from  the  rest,  and  put  to  the  sword. 

This  bloody  order  having  been  put  into 
execution,  those  who  remained  alive  were 
still  inflexible,  when  a  second  decimation 
took  place,  and  every  tenth  man  of  those 
living  were  again  put  to  death. 

This  second  severity  made  no  more  im- 
pression than  the  first  had  done ;  the  sol- 
diers preserved  their  fortitude  and  their 
principles,  but  by  the  advice  of  their  of- 
ficers, drew  up  a  remonstrance  to  the  em- 
peror, in  which  they  told  him,  that  they 
were  his  subjects  and  his  soldiers,  but 
could  not  at  the  same  time  forget  the  Al- 
mighty ;  that  they  received  their  pay  from 
him,  and  their  existence  from  God.  "  While 
your  commands  are  not  contradictory  to 
those  of  our  common  Master,  we  shall  al- 


ways  be  ready  to  obey,  as  we  have  been 
hitherto  ;  but  when  the  orders  of  our  prince  \ 
and  those  of  the  Almighty  differ,  we  must  < 
always  obey  the  latter.     Our  arms  are  de-  ' 
voted   to  the   emperor's  use,  and  shall   be  j 
directed  against  his  enemies ;  but  we  can  ' 
not  submit  to  stain  our  hands  with  effusion 
of  Christian  blood  ;  and  how,  indeed,  could  I 
you,  O  emperor !  be  secure  of  our  allegi-  ; 
ance    and    fidelity,  should  we   violate   our 
obligation  to  our  God,  in  whose  service  we  \ 
were  solemnly  engaged  before  we  entered  • 
in  the  army  1     You  command  us  to  search 
out  and  to  destroy  the  Christians  :  it  is  not 
necessary  to  look  any  farther  for  persons  ; 
of  that    denomination ;   we   ourselves    are  ; 
such,  and  we  glory  in  the  name.     We  saw  ''. 
our  companions   fall  without  the  least  op-  ; 
position   or  murmuring,  and  thought  them 
happy  in   dying    for  the    sake   of   Christ.  .' 
Nothing  shall  make  us  lift  up  our  hands 
against  our  sovereign  ;  we  had  rather  die 
wrongfully,   and   by  that   means  preserve 
our  innocence,  than  live  under  a  load  of  [ 
guilt ;    whatever   you    command,    we    are 
ready  to  suffer  ;  we   confess   ourselves   to 
be  Christians,  and  therefore  can  not  perse- 
cute  Christians,  nor  sacrifice  to  idols." 

A  declaration  like  this,  it  might  be  pre-  ; 
sumed,  would  have  softened  the  emperor, 
but  it  had  the  contrary  effect :  for,  enraged 
at  their  perseverance  and  unanimity,  he 
commanded  that  the  whole  legion  sliould 
be  put  to  death,  which  was  accordingly 
executed  by  the  other  troops,  who  cut  them 
to  pieces  with  their  swords. 

This   affair  happened  on  the  22d  Sep- 
tember, A.  D.  286  ;  and  such  was  the  in- 
veterate  malice  of  Maximian,  that  he  sent  \ 
to  destroy  every  man  of  a  few  detachments  \ 
that  had  been  draughted  from  the  Theban 
legion,  and  despatched  to  Italy. 

Alban,  from  whom  St.  Alban's,  in  Heit 
fordshire,  received  its  name,  was  the  first 
British  martyr.     This  island  had  received 
the  gospel  of  Christ  from  Lucius,  the  first  i' 
Christian  king,  but  did   not  suffer  by  the  \ 
rage  of  persecution  for  many  years  after. 

Alban  was  originally  a  pagan,  but  being  / 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


49 


naturally  of  a  very  humane  and  tender  dis- 
position, he  sheltered  a  Christian  ecclesi- 
astic named  Amphibalus,  when  some  of- 
ficers were  in  pursuit  of  him  on  account  of 
his  religion. 

The  pious  example  and  edifying  dis- 
courses of  the  refugee,  made  a  great  im- 
pression on  the  mind  of  Alban  ;  he  longed 
to  become  a  member  of  a  religion  which 
charmed  him,  and  to  imitate  what  he  ad- 
mired. The  fugitive  minister,  happy  in 
the  opportunity,  took  great  pains  to  instruct 
him  ;  and  before  his  discovery,  perfected 
Alban's  conversion. 

Alban  now  took  the  firm  resolution  to 
preserve  the  sentiments  of  a  Christian,  or 
die  the  death  of  a  martyr.  The  enemies 
of  Amphibalus  having  intelligence  of  the 
place  where  he  was  secreted,  came  to  the 
house  of  Alban  in  order  to  apprehend  him. 

Alban,  desirous  of  protecting  his  guest 
and  instructor,  changed  clothes  with  him  in 
order  to  facilitate  his  escape  ;  and  when 
the  soldiers  came,  offered  himself  up  as  the 
person  they  were  seeking  for. 

Being  carried  before  the  governor,  the 
deceit  was  immediately  discovered  ;  and 
Amphibalus  being  absent,  that  officer  de- 
termined to  wreak  all  his  vengeance  upon 
Alban. 

The  prisoner  was  accordingly  command- 
ed to  advance  to  the  altar,  and  to  sacrifice 
to  the  pagan  deities  ;  or  threatened,  in 
case  of  refusal,  with  the  vengeance  intend- 
ed to  be  exercised  against  the  person  who 
had  escaped  by  his  contrivance. 

Unterrified  by  these  menaces,  he  de- 
clared that  he  would  not  comply  with  such 
idolatrous  injunctions,  but  freely  professed 
himself  to  be  a  Christian;  and  breathed 
out  such  sentiments  as  these  : — 

"  The  Christian  beam 


Illuminates  my  faith,  and  bids  me  trust 
All  that  may  happen  to  the  will  of  Heaven 

»  »  *  *  • 

New  force  inspires  me,  and  my  strengthened  soul 
Feels  energy  divine  :  the  fair  example 
Of  steadfast  martyrs,  and  of  dying  saints, 
Has  warmed  me  to  better  thoughts  :  I  now 
Can  with  a  smile  behold  misfortune's  face, 
And  think  the  weight  of  miseries  a  trial. 
The  heavenly  precepts  brighten  to  my  mind : 
4 


No  useful  part  of  duty  left  behind  : 
Here  the  consenting  principles  unite, 
A  beam  divine  directs  our  steps  aright, 
And  shows  the  moral  in  the  Christian  light." 

The  governor  ordered  him  to  be  scourged, 
which  he  bore  with  great  fortitude,  and 
seemed  to  acquire  new  resolution  from  bis 
sufferings  :  he  then  was  sentenced  to  be 
beheaded. 

The  venerable  Bede  assures  us  that, 
upon  this  occasion,  the  executioner  sud- 
denly became  a  convert  to  Christianity, 
and  entreated  permission  either  to  die  for 
Alban,  or  with  him.  Obtaining  tbe  latter 
request,  they  were  beheaded  by  a  soldier, 
who  voluntarily  undertook  the  task  of  exe- 
cutioner. This  happened  on  the  22d  of 
June,  A.  D.  287,  at  Verulam,  now  St.  Al- 
ban's, in  Hertfordshire,  where  a  magnifi- 
cent church  was  erected  to  his  memory 
about  the  time  of  Constantine  the  Great. 
This  edifice  being  destroyed  in  the  Saxon 
wars,  was  rebuilt  by  Offa,  king  of  Mercia, 
and  a  monastery  erected  adjoining  to  it, 
some  remains  of  which  are  still  visible, 
and  the  church  is  a  noble  Gothic  structure. 

Quintin  was  a  Christian,  and  a  native 
of  Rome,  but  determined  to  attempt  the 
propagation  of  the  gospel  in  Gaul,  lie 
accordingly  went  to  Picardy,  attended  by 
one  Lucian :  they  preached  together  at 
Amiens ;  after  which  Lucian  went  to 
Beawaris,  where  he  was  martyred. 

Quintin  remained  in  Picardy,  and  was 
very  zealous  in  his  ministry.  His  con- 
tinual prayers  to  the  Almighty  were,  to  in- 
crease his  faith,  and  strengthen  his  facul- 
ties to  propagate  the  gospel.  The  breath- 
ings of  his  soul  might  be  well  expressed 
in  the  following  lines  : — 

u  Awful  heaven ! 
Great  ruler  of  the  various  hearts  of  man  ! 
Since  thou  hast  raised  me  to  conduct  thy  church 
Without  the  base  cabal  too  often  practised, 
Beyond  my  wish,  my  thought,  give  me  the  lights, 
The  virtues,  which  that  sacred  trust  requires  : 
A  loving,  loved,  unterrifying  power, 
Such  as  becomes  a  father  ;  humble  wisdom  ; 
Plain,  primitive  sincerity  ;  kind  zeal 
For  truth  and  virtue  rather  than  opinions  ; 
And,  above  all,  the  charitable  soul 
Of  healing  peace  and  Christian  moderation." 

Being  seized  upon  as  a  Christian,  he 
was   stretched  with  pulleys  till  his  joints 


50 


THE  CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


were  dislocated  :  his  body  was  then  torn  \  Varus,  the  governor,  being  obliged  to  re- 
with  wire  scourges,  and  boiling  oil  and  <  pair  to  Vermandois,  ordered  Quintin  to  be 
pitch  poured  on  his  naked  flesh  :  lighted  <  conducted  thither  under  a  strong  guard, 
torches  were  applied  to  his  sides  and  arm-  <  where  he  died  of  the  barbarities  he  had 
pits;  and  after  he  had  been  thus  tortured,  \  suffered,  on  the  31st  of  October,  A.  D.  287  ; 
he  was  remanded  back  to  prison.  '  and  his  body  was  sunk  in  the  Somme. 


THE  TENTH  PRIMITIVE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  THE  ROMAN  EMPERORS, 

COMMONLY  CALLED  THE  ERA  OF  THE  MARTYRS. 


EVERAL  reasons  have  been 
assigned  for  the  occasion 
of  this  persecution,  par- 
ticularly the  great  increase 
of  the  Christians,  whose 
numbers  rendered  them 
formidable  ;  many  of  them  having  lost  their 
humility,  and  given  themselves  up  to  vanity, 
by  dressing  gay,  living  sumptuously,  build- 
ing stately  edifices  for  churches,  &c, 
which  created  envy ;  and  the  hatred  of 
Galerius,  the  adopted  son  of  Dioclesian, 
who  being  stimulated  by  his  mother,  a 
bigoted  pagan,  never  ceased  persuading  \ 
the  emperor  to  enter  upon  the  persecution  < 
till  he  had  accomplished  his  purpose. 

The  fatal  day  fixed  upon  to  commence 
the  bloody  work,  was  the  23d  of  February, 
A.  D.  303,  that  being  the  day  in  which  the 
Terminalia  were  celebrated,  and  on  which, 
as  the  pagans  boasted,  they  hoped  to  put  a 
a  termination  to  Christianity.  $ 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  persecution  $ 
began  in  Nicomedia,  on  the  morning  of  > 
which  the  prsefect  of  that  city  repaired, 
with  a  great  number  of  officers  and  assist- 
ants, to  the  church  of  the  Christians,  where, 
having  forced  open  the  doors,  they  seized 
upon  all  the  sacred  books,  and  committed 
them  to  the  flames. 

The  whole  of  this  transaction  was  in  the  \ 
presence  of  Dioclesian  and  Galerius,  who,,: 
not  content  with  burning  the  books,  had  < 
the  church  levelled  with  the  ground.    This  \ 


was  followed  by  a  severe  edict  command- 
ing the  destruction  of  all  other  Christian 
churches  and  books  ;  and  an  order  soon 
succeeded  to  render  Christians  of  all  de- 
nominations outlaws,  and  consequently  to 
make  them  incapable  of  holding  any  place 
of  trust,  profit,  or  dignity,  or  of  receiving 
any  protection  from  the  legal  institutions 
of  the  realm. 

The  publication  of  this  edict  occasioned 
an  immediate  martyrdom  ;  for  a  bold  Chris- 
tian not  only  tore  it  down  from  the  place 
to  which  it  was  affixed,  but  execrated  the 
name  of  the  emperor  for  his  injustice. 

A  provocation  like  this  was  sufficient  to 
call  down  pagan  vengeance  upon  his  head  ; 
he  was  accordingly  seized,  severely  tor- 
tured, and  then  burnt  alive. 

All  the  Christian  prelates  were  then  ap- 
prehended and  imprisoned ;  and  Galerius 
privately  ordered  the  imperial  palace  to  be 
set  on  fire,  that  the  Christians  might  be 
charged  as  the  incendiaries,  and  a  plausi- 
ble pretence  given  for  carrying  on  the  per- 
secution with  the  greatest  severities. 

A  general  sacrifice  was  commanded, 
which  occasioned  various  martyrdoms. 
Among  others  a  Christian  named  Peter 
was  tortured,  broiled,  and  then  burnt ;  seve- 
ral deacons  and  presbyters  were  seized 
upon  and  executed  by  various  means  ;  and 
the  bishop  of  Nicomedia,  named  Anthi- 
mus,  was  beheaded. 

No  distinction  was  made  of  age  or  sex  ; 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


51 


the  name  of  Christian  was  so  obnoxious 
to  the  pagans,  that  all  fell  indiscriminately 
sacrifices  to  their  opinions.  Many  houses 
were  set  on  fire,  and  whole  Christian  fami- 
lies perished  in  the  flames  ;  and  others 
had  stones  fastened  about  their  necks,  and 
being  tied  together  were  driven  into  the 
sea.  The  persecution  became  general  in 
all  the  Roman  provinces,  but  more  par- 
ticularly in  the  east ;  and  as  it  lasted  ten 
years,  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the  num- 
bers martyred,  or  to  enumerate  the  various 
modes  of  martyrdom  :  some  were  beheaded 
in  Arabia  ;  many  devoured  by  wild  beasts 
in  Phoenicia ;  great  numbers  were  broiled 
on  gridirons  in  Syria ;  others  had  their 
bones  broken,  and  in  that  manner  were 
left  to  expire  in  Cappadocia ;  and  several 
in  Mesopotamia  were  hung  with  their  heads 
downward  over  slow  fires,  and  suffocated. 

In  Pontuo,  a  variety  of  tortures  were 
used,  in  particular,  pins  were  thrust  under 
the  nails  of  the  prisoners,  melted  lead  was 
poured  upon  them,  and  various  modes  were 
adopted  in  tormenting  the  Christians,  the 
indecency  of  which  could  be  only  equalled 
by  the  savage  barbarities  practised  in  their 
execution. 

In  Egypt  the  Christians  were  martyred 
by  means  of  the  four  elements,  some  were 
buried  alive  in  the  earth,  others  were  drown- 
ed in  the  waters  of  the  Nile,  many  were  hung 
up  in  the  air  till  they  perished,  and  great 
numbers  received  their  death  by  being 
thrown  into  large  fires. 

Racks,  scourges,  swords,  daggers, 
crosses,  poison,  and  famine,  were  made 
use  of  in  various  parts  to  despatch  the 
Christians ;  and  invention  was  exhausted 
to  devise  tortures  against  such  as  had  no 
crime,  but  thinking  differently  from  the 
votaries  of  superstition. 

A  city  of  Phrygia,  consisting  entirely 
of  Christians,  was  surrounded  by  a  number 
of  pagan  soldiers  to  prevent  any  from  es- 
caping ;  who  setting  it  on  fire,  all  the  in- 
habitants perished  in  the  flames.  But 
though  the  sufferings  of  the  Christians 
were    many,   their   souls  were    serene :  a 


perfect  resignation  to  the  chastisements  of 
Heaven  being  one  of  the  greatest  Christian 
duties  ;  for,  as  a  learned  divine  says  : — 

"  Naked  as  from  the  earth  we  came, 
And  crept  to  life  at  first, 
We  to  the  earth  return  again, 
And  mingle  with  our  dust. 

"  The  dear  delights  we  here  enjoy, 
And  fondly  call  our  own, 
Are  but  short  favors  borrowed  now, 
To  be  repaid  anon. 

"  'Tis  God  that  lifts  our  comforts  high, 
Or  sinks  them  in  the  grave  ; 
He  gives,  and  blessed  be  his  name, 
He  takes  but  what  he  gave." 

Tired  with  slaughter,  at  length,  several 
governors  of  provinces  represented  to  the 
imperial  court  that  it  was  "  unfit  to  pollute 
the  cities  with  the  blood  of  the  inhabitants, 
or  to  defame  the  government  of  the  em- 
perors with  the  death  of  so  many  subjects." 
Hence  many  were  respited  from  execu- 
tion, but  though  they  did  not  put  them  to 
death,  as  much  as  possible  was  done  to 
render  their  lives  miserable. 

Accordingly,  as  marks  of  infamy,  many 
of  the  Christians  had  their  ears  cut  off, 
their  noses  slit,  their  right  eyes  put  out, 
their  limbs  rendered  useless  by  dreadful 
dislocations,  and  their  flesh  seared  in  con- 
spicuous places  with  red-hot  irons. 

It  is  necessary  now  to  particularize  the 
most  conspicuous  persons  who  laid  down 
their  lives  in  martyrdom  in  this  bloody  per- 
secution. 

Vitus,  a  Sicilian  of  a  considerable  fam- 
ily, was  brought  up  a  Christian  ;  when  his 
virtues  increased  with  his  years,  his  con- 
stancy supported  him  under  all  afflictions, 
and  his  faith  was  superior  to  the  most  dan- 
gerous perils. 

His  father,  Hylas,  who  was  a  pagan, 
finding  that  he  had  been  instructed  in  the 
principles  of  Christianity  by  the  nurse  who 
brought  him  up,  did  all  his  endeavors  to 
bring  him  back  to  paganism. 

Failing  in  his  design,  he  forgot  all  the 
feelings  of  a  parent,  and  informed  against 
his  son  to  Valerian,  governor  of  Sicily, 
who  was  very  active  in  persecuting  the 
Christians. 


'\ 


52 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


Vitus,  at  the  time  of  his  being  appre- 
hended upon  the  information  of  his  father, 
was  little  more  that,  twelve  years  of  age  ; 
Valerian,  therefore,  on  account  of  his  ten- 
der age,  thought  to  frighten  him  out  of  his 
faitn.  He  was  accordingly  threatened  with 
great  anger,  and  ordered  to  be  scourged  j 
severely. 

Having  received  this  punishment,  the 
governor  sent  him  back  to  his  father,  think- 
ing that  what  he  had  suffered  would  cer- 
tainly make  him  change  his  principles  :  but 
in  this  he  was  mistaken  ;  and  Hylas,  find- 
ing his  son  inflexible,  suffered  nature  to 
sink  under  superstition,  and  determined  to 
sacrifice  his  son  to  the  idols. 

Vitus,  on  being  apprized  of  his  design, 
escaped  to  Lucania,  where  being  seized, 
he  was  by  order  of  Valerian  put  to  death 
June  14,  A.  D.  303  ;  but  in  what  manner 
we  are  not  informed. 

Crescentia,  the  nurse  who  brought 
him  up  as  a  Christian,  and  a  person  who 
escaped  with  him,  called  Modestus,  were 
martyred  at  the  same  time. 

Victor  was  a  Christian  of  a  good  family 
at  Marseilles,  in  France  ;  he  spent  a  great 
part  of  the  night  in  visiting  the  afflicted, 
and  confirming  the  weak,  which  pious  work 
he  could  not,  consistent  with  his  own  safety, 
perform  in  the  daytime  ;  and  his  fortune  he 
spent  in  relieving  the  distresses  of  poor 
Christians,  thinking  that  riches  were  use- 
less unless  subservient  to  works  of  charity, 
and  otherwise  employed,  were  a  bane  to 
mankind. 

"  Mark  where  yon  mines  their  radiant  stores  unfold, 
Peru's  rich  dust,  or  Chili's  beds  of  gold  : 
Insidious  bane,  that  makes  destruction  smooth  j 
Thou  foe  to  virtue,  liberty,  and  truth: 
Whose  arts  the  fate  of  monarchies  decide, 
Who  gildst  deceit,  the  darling  child  of  pride  : 
How  oft  allured  by  thy  persuasive  charms, 
Have  earth's  contending  powers  appeared  in  arms!  I 
What  nations  bribed  have  owned  thy  powerful  reign,  | 
For  thee  what  millions  ploughed  the  stormy  main,  > 
Travelled  from  pole  to  pole  with  ceaseless  toil, 
And  felt  their  blood  alternate  freeze  and  boil !" 

He  was   at  length,  however,   seized   by  I 

tho  emperor's  orders,  and  being  carried  be-  I 

fore  two  prefects,  they  advised  him  to  em- 1 

brace  paganism,  and  not  forfeit  the  favor  \ 

of  his  prince,  on  account  of  a  dead  man,  as  ; 


he  styled  Christ.  In  answer  to  which  he 
replied,  that  he  "preferred  the  service  of 
that  dead  man,  who  was  in  reality  the  Son 
of  God,  and  was  risen  from  the  grave,  to 
all  the  advantages  he  could  receive  from 
the  emperor's  favor ;  that  he  was  a  soldier 
of  Christ,  and  would  therefore  take  care 
that  the  post  he  held  under  an  earthly  prince, 
should  never  interfere  with  his  duty  to  the 
King  of  heaven  ;  and  that  as  for  the  gods, 
whose  worship  they  recommended  to  him, 
he  could  not  think  them  any  better  than 
evil  spirits." 

He  was  loaded  with  reproaches  for  this 
reply,  but  being  a  man  of  rank,  he  was 
sent  to  the  emperor  to  receive  his  final  sen- 
tence. 

Being  by  order  stretched  upon  the  rack, 
he  turned  his  eyes  toward  heaven,  and 
prayed  to  God  to  endue  him  with  patience  ; 
after  which  he  underwent  the  tortures  with 
most  admirable  fortitude.  After  the  execu- 
tioners were  tired  with  inflicting  torments 
on  him,  he  was  taken  from  the  rack  and 
conveyed  to  a  close  dark  dungeon.  He 
was  afterward  sentenced  to  be  thrown  into 
a  mill,  and  crushed  to  pieces  with  the 
stones. 

This  cruel  sentence  was,  in  some  meas- 
ure, put  into  execution  ;  Victor  was  thrown 
into  the  mill,  but  part  of  the  apparatus 
breaking,  he  was  drawn  from  it  terribly 
bruised ;  and  the  emperor  not  having  pa- 
tience to  stay  till  it  was  mended,  ordered 
his  head  to  be  struck  off,  which  was  ex- 
ecuted accordingly,  A.  D.  303. 

Andronicus  was  next  brought  up  for 
examination,  when  being  asked  the  usual 
questions,  he  said  :  "  I  am  a  Christian,  a 
native  of  Ephesus,  and  descended  from  one 
of  the  first  families  in  that  city."  After  a 
great  deal  of  altercation,  in  which  the  gov- 
ernor was  unsuccessful  in  endeavoring  to 
dissuade  him  from  his  fate,  he  was  ordered 
to  undergo  punishments  similar  to  those  of 
Tarachus  and  Probus,  and  then  to  be  re- 
manded to  prison. 

After  being  confined  some  days,  the 
three   prisoners  were  brought  before  Max- 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


53 


imus  again,  who  began  first  to  reason  with 
Tarachus,  saying  that  as  old  age  was  hon- 
ored from  the  supposition  of  its  being  ac- 
companied by  wisdom,  he  was  in  hopes  that 
what  had  already  past  must,  upon  delibera- 
tion, have  caused   a  change   in  his  senti- 
ments.    Finding  himself,  however  mista- 
ken, he  ordered  him  to  be  tortured  by  vari- 
j  ous   means  ;  particularly,  fire  was  placed 
|  in  the  palms   of  his  hands  ;  he  was  hung 
$  up  by  his  feet,  and  smoked  with  wet  straw  ; 
i  a  mixture  of  salt  and  vinegar  was  poured 
I  into  his  nostrils ;  and  he  was  then  again 
|  remanded  to  prison. 

Probus  being  then  called  for,  and  asked 
J  if  he  would  sacrifice,  replied  :  "  I  come  bet- 
ter prepared  than  before ;  for  what  I  have 
already  suffered  has  only  confirmed  and 
strengthened  me  in  my  resolution.  Em- 
ploy your  whole  power  upon  me,  and  you 
will  find  that  neither  you  nor  your  masters, 
the  emperors,  nor  the  gods  whom  you 
serve,  nor  the  devil  who  is  your  father, 
shall  oblige  me  to  adore  gods  whom  I  know 
not." 

The  governor  then  attempted  to  reason 
with  him  on  religious  subjects  ;  for  having 
a  slender  education,  he  was  proud  of  show- 
ing his  talents  ;  for  those  who  know  little 
are  fond  of  talking  much,  and  by  mistaking 
casuistry  for  reason,  would  fain  deceive 
others  as  they  do  themselves.  He  launched 
forth  into  the  most  extravagant  praises  of 
the  pagan  deities,  and  as  he  enumerated 
them  described  their  respective  powers 
and  separate  virtues  ;  and  inferred,  from 
what  himself  had  said,  that  such  deities, 
possessed  of  such  admirable  qualities, 
ought  to  be  worshipped.  "  However," 
continues  he,  "  as  your  chief  objection  is 
against  a  plurality  of  gods,  I  will  not  press 
you  to  sacrifice  to  all  of  them  ;  sacrifice 
only  to  Jupiter,  the  chief,  the  most  power- 
ful, and  most  invincible,  of  our  deities." 

Probus,  however,  easily  confuted  his 
arguments,  turned  his  casuistry  to  r.dicule, 
and  in  particular  said  :  "  Shall  I  pay  divine 
honors  to  Jupiter,  to  one  who  married  his 
own  sister  to  an  infamous  debauchee,  as  is 
K. 


>  even  acknowledged  by  your  own  poets  and 
■  priests  V 

Incensed  at  this  speech,  the  governor 
ordered  him  to  be  struck  upon  the  mouth, 
for  uttering  what  he  called  blasphemy  ;  his 
body  was  then  seared  with  hot  irons ;  he 
was  put  to  the  rack  and  afterward  scourged  ; 
his  head  was  then  shaved,  and  hot  coals 

>  placed  upon  the  crown ;  and  after  all 
5  these  tortures  he  was  again  sent  to  con- 
\  finement. 

>  Andronicus   being  again  brought  before 

>  Maximus,  the  latter  attempted  to  deceive 
)  him,  by  pretending  that  Tarachus  and  Pro- 
\  bus  had  repented  of  their  obstinacy,  and 
)  owned  the  gods  of  the  empire.  To  this 
)  the  prisoner  answered  :  "  Lay  not,  O  gov- 
?  ernor,  such  a  weakness  to  the  charge  of 
\  those,  who  have  appeared  here  before  me 

>  in  this  cause  ;  nor  imagine  it  in  your  pow- 
er to  shake  my  fixed  resolution  with  artful 
speeches.  I  can  not  believe  that  they  have 
disobeyed  the  laws  of  their  fathers,  re- 
nounced their  hopes  in  our  God,  and  obey- 
ed your  extravagant  orders  :  nor  will  I  ever 
fall  short  of  them  in  faith  and  dependance 
upon  our  common  Savior :  thus  armed,  I 
neither  know  your  gods,  nor  fear  your  au- 
thority ;  fulfil  your  threats,  execute  your 
most  sanguinary  inventions,  and  employ 
every  cruel  art  in  your  power  on  me  ;  I 
am  prepared  to  bear  it  for  the  sake  of 
Christ." 

This  answer  occasioned  him  to  be  cru- 
elly scourged,  and  his  wounds  were  after- 
ward rubbed  with  salt.  Being  perfectly 
well  again  in  a  short  time,  the  governor 
reproached  the  jailer  for  having  suffered 
some  physician  to  attend  him.  The  jailer, 
in  his  own  defence,  declared  that  no  person 
whatever  had  been  near  him,  or  the  other 
prisoners,  and  that  he  would  willingly  for- 
feit his  head  if  any  allegation  of  the  kind 
could  be  proved  against  him.  Andronicus 
corroborated  the  testimony  of  the  jailer, 
and  added,  that  the  God  whom  he  served 
was  the  most  powerful  of  physicians,  and 
the  plant  of  grace  the  most  salutary  of 
vegetables. " 


M 


51 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


44  The  sick  and  weak  the  healing  plant  shall  aid, 
From  storms  a  shelter,  and  from  heat  a  shade  ; 
No  sigh,  no  murmur,  t lie  glad  world  shall  hear, 
From  every  eye  be  wipes  off  every  tear. 
The  dumb  shall  speak,  the  lame  his  crutch  forego, 
And  leap  exulting  like  the  bounding  roe  ; 
In  adamantine  chains  shall  death  be  bound, 
And  hell's  grim  tyrant  feel  the  eternal  wound." 

These  three  worthy  Christians  were 
brought  to  a  third  examination,  when  they 
retained  their  constancy,  were  again  tor- 
tured, and  at  length  ordered  for  execution. 

Being  brought  to  the  amphitheatre,  sev- 
eral beasts  were  let  loose  upon  them ;  but 
none  of  the  animals,  though  hungry,  would 
touch  them.  This  so  greatly  irritated  Max- 
iinus,  that  he  severely  reprehended  the 
keeper,  and  ordered  him  to  produce  a  beast 
that  would  execute  the  business  for  which 
he  was  wanted.  The  keeper  then  brought 
out  a  large  bear,  that  had  that  very  day  de- 
stroyed three  men  ;  but  this  creature,  and 
a  fierce  lioness,  both  refused  to  touch  the 
prisoners. 

Finding  the  design  of  destroying  them 
by  the  means  of  wild  beasts  ineffectual, 
Maximus  ordered  them  to  be  slain  by  a 
sword,  which  was  accordingly  executed  on 
the  11th  of  October,  A.  D.  303.  They 
all  declared,  previous  to  their  martyrdom, 
that  as  death  was  the  common  lot  of  all 
men,  they  wished  to  meet  that  for  the  sake 
of  Christ,  which  they  must  of  course  fall 
a  victim  to  on  account  of  nature  ;  and  to 
resign  that  life  to  faith,  which  must  other- 
wise be  the  prey  of  disease.  These  sen- 
timents are  noble,  Christian-like,  and  phi- 
losophical ;  for  as  death  is  certain,  the 
time  and  mode  are  not  of  that  importance 
commonly  imagined.  Even  the  world  it- 
self will  meet  with  death  in  its  general 
dissolution. 

"  Now  in  a  broader  range  the  deluge  raves, 
And  rolls  triumphant  through  the  boiling  waves 
O'er  all  the  hills  the  rising  flames  aspire, 
The  mountains  blaze  a  mighty  ridge  of  fire, 
Where   stood    the    snow-crowned   Alps    (an   awful 

name  !) 
Now  rolled  the  doubling  smoke,  a  spiry  flame  ; 
While  o'er  the  Andes  in  a  whirlwind  driven, 
Burst  the  blue  gleam,  and  darkness  wrapt  the  heaven. 
Even  Etna  rocks,  with  a  reluctant  groan, 
Sunk  in  a  flame  more  dreadful  than  its  own  : 
A  fiery  stream  the  deep  volcano  pours, 
And  from  its  mouth  incessant  thunder  roars. 
Each  humbler  vale  partakes  the  general  doom, 
The  smiling  meads  resign  their  lovely  bloom  ; 


Not  Asia's  fields  the  impetuois  flood  retain  ; 
;  It  bounds  with  fury  o'er  the  wide  champaign  ; 

What  e'er  to  view  revolving  seasons  bring, 
j  Bach  opening  flower,  the  painted  child  of  spring, 
'  Uleak  winter's  snow,  with  summer's  rosy  pride, 
>  And  autumn's  ripening  stores,  augment  the  tide  : 
5  On  its  broad  wave  it  bears  the  shining  spoil, 

Hills  burst,   rocks   melt,  woods   blaze,  aud  oceans 
boil." 

Marcellinus  was  an  ecclesiastic  at 
Rome  :  being  apprehended  on  account  of 
his  religion,  he  was  ordered  to  be  privately 
executed  in  the  forest,  and  was  beheaded 
there  accordingly. 

Peter,  a  Christian,  apprehended  for 
the  same  cause,  was  executed  at  the  same 
time  and  place. 

Much  about  this  period  Smaragdus, 
Largus,  and  Cyriacus,  a  deacon  of  the 
Christian  church,  were  martyred  ;  but  the 
mode  of  their  deaths  is  not  specified  by 
martyrologists. 

Susanna,  the  niece  of  Caius,  bishop  of 
Rome,  was  pressed  by  the  emperor  Diocle- 
sian  to  marry  a  noble  pagan,  who  was 
nearly  related  to  him.  Susanna,  however, 
refused  the  honor  intended  her,  on  account 
of  her  religion,  which  was  that  of  a  Chris- 
tian, which  so  greatly  enraged  the  em- 
peror, that  she  was  beheaded  by  his  order. 

Dorotheus,  the  high-chamberlain  of  the 
household  to  Dioclesian,  was  a  Christian, 
and  took  great  pains  to  make  converts.  In 
his  religious  labors  he  was  joined  by  Gor- 
gonius,  another  Christian,  and  one  belong- 
ing to  the  palace.  They  were  both  high 
in  the  emperor's  favor,  but  soon  had  an 
opportunity  of  evincing  that  worldly  honors 
and  temporary  pleasures  were  nothing 
when  set  in  competition  with  the  joys  of 
immortality ;  for  being  informed  against, 
they  were  first  tortured  and  then  strangled. 

Peter,  a  eunuch  belonging  to  the  em- 
peror, was  a  Christian  of  singular  modesty 
and  humility.  His  humility  caused  him  to 
undertake  any  menial  office  to  serve  the 
afflicted  ;  and  his  benevolence  occasioned 
him  to  give  whatever  he  possessed,  to  those 
who  needed  assistance ;  convinced  that 
riches  did  not  constitute  happiness,  and 
that  want  could  give  instructions-,  which 
wealth  could  never  bestow. 


fi~ 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


55 


Being  informed  against  as  a  Christian, 
and  confessing  the  charge,  he  was  scourged 
till  his  flesh  was   torn  in   a  most  terrible 
|  manner  ;  and  then  salt  and  vinegar  were 
i  thrown  upon  the  wounds.     Having  endured 
i  these  tortures  with  the  utmost  tranquillity, 
j  he    was  laid    on    a  gridiron,    and  broiled 
I  over  a  slow  fire  till  he  expired. 
l       Saturninus,    a   priest   or    Albitina,    a 
j  town  of   Africa,   used   to    officiate    in  his 
clerical  capacity,   preach,  and    administer 
the  sacrament,  to  a  society  of  Christians, 
who  privately  assembled  at  the  house  of 
Octavius    Felix ;    for  the    severity  of  the 
times  were  such  that  they  could  not  pub- 
licly perform  their  religious  duties. 

Being  informed  against,  Saturninus,  with 
four  of  his  children,  and  several  other 
persons,  were  apprehended ;  and  that  their 
punishment  might  be  the  more  exemplary 
and  public,  they  were  sent  to  Carthage,  the 
capital  of  all  Africa,  where  they  were  ex- 
amined before  Anulinus,  the  proconsul  of 
that  quarter  of  the  globe. 

On  the  examination,  Saturninus  gave 
such  spirited  answers,  and  vindicated  the 
Christian  religion  with  such  force  of  elo- 
quence, as  showed  that  he  was  worthy  to 
preside  over  an  assembly  that  professed  a 
faith  of  purity  and  truth.  Anulinus,  en- 
raged at  his  superior  arguments,  which  he 
could  not  confute,  ordered  him  to  be  stopped 
from  saying  any  more,  by  being  put  to  a 
variety  of  tortures,  such  as  scourging,  tear- 
ing his  flesh  with  hooks,  burning  with  hot 
irons,  &c.  All  this  he  bore  with  the  most 
manly  patience,  breathing  such  generous 
and  pure  sentiments  as  these  : — 

"  0  heaven-born  patience,  source  of  peace  and  rest, 
Descend ;  infuse  thy  spirit  through  my  breast, 
That  I  may  calmly  meet  the  hour  of  fate, 
My  foes  forgive,  and  triumph  o'er  their  hate. 
This  body  let  their  engines  tear  and  grind, 
But  let  not  all  their  racks  subdue  my  mind." 

After  being  tortured  he  was  remanded  to 
prison,  and  there  starved  to  death. 

The    four    children    of    Saturninus,^ 
after  being  variously  tormented,  remained  \ 
j  steady  in  their  faith,  on  which  they  were 
,  sent  back  to  the  dungeon  in  which  their  \ 
B 


father  was  confined,  and  shared  the  very 
same  fate  as  their  parent. 

Eight  other  Christians  were  tor- 
tured on  the  same  day  as  Saturninus,  and 
much  in  the  same  manner.  Two  expired 
on  the  spot  through  the  severity  of  their 
sufferings,  and  the  other  six  being  sent 
back  to  prison,  were  suffocated  by  means 
of  the  closeness  of  the  dungeon. 

Victor,  a  native  of  Ancyra,  was  accused 
by  the  priests  of  Diana,  of  having  abused 
their  goddess.  For  this  imputed  crime  he 
was  seized  upon,  committed  to  prison,  his 
house  plundered,  his  family  turned  out  of 
doors,  and  his  estate  confiscated. 

Being  put  to  the  rack,  his  resolution 
failed  him,  and  he  began  to  waver  in  his 
faith  through  the  severity  of  the  torments. 
Being  carried  back  to  prison,  in  order  to 
make  a  full  recantation,  God  punished  him 
for  his  intended  apostacy ;  for  his  wounds 
mortified,  and  put  an  end  to  his  life  in  a 
few  days. 

Timothy,  a  worthy  Christian,  being 
carried  before  Urban,  governor  of  Pales- 
tine, was  sentenced  to  be  burned  to  death 
by  a  slow  fire  ;  which  sentence  was  exe- 
cuted at  Gaza,  in  the  year  304,  on  the  19th 
day  of  August. 

Philip,  bishop  of  Heraclea,  had,  in 
every  act  of  his  life,  appeared  as  a  good 
Christian  ;  the  chief  of  his  disciples  were 
Severus,  a  priest,  and  Hermes,  a  deacon  ; 
and  these  three  did  all  in  their  power  to 
promote  the  cause  of  Christianity. 

This  worthy  bishop  was  advised  to  se- 
crete himself,  in  order  to  avoid  the  storm 
of  the  persecution  ;  but  he  reproved  those 
who  counselled  him  so  to  do,  telling  them 
that  their  merit  would  be  enhanced  by  their 
sufferings,  and  that  death  had  no  terror  for 
the  virtuous. 

"  Him  fortune  can  not  sink,  nor  much  elate, 
Whose  views  extend  beyond  this  mortal  state  ; 
By  age  when  summoned  to  resign  his  breath, 
Calm  and  serene  he  sees  approaching  death  ; 
As  the  safe  port,  the  peaceful  silent  shore, 
Where  he  may  rest,  life's  tedious  voyage  o'er ; 
He,  and  he  only  is  of  death  afraid. 
Whom  his  own  conscience  has  a  coward  made  ; 
While  he  who  virtue's  radiant  course  has  run, 
Descends  like  a  serenely-setting  sun, 


, a 


56 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


His  thoughts  triumphant  heaven  alone  employs, 
And  hope  anticipates  his  future  joys." 


Philip  being  taken  to  the  market-place, 
was    ordered  to    sacrifice   to    the    Roman 
An  officer    named  Aristomachus,  being  \  deities  in  general,  and  to  a  very  handsome 
employed  to  shut  up  the  Christian  churches  \  image  of  Hercules  in  particular  ;  to  which 
in  Heraclea,  Philip  took  great  pains  to  con-  \  command,    "  Alas  !"    replied    the    prelate, 
|  vince  him  that  the  shutting  up  of  buildings  ;  "  how    unhappy    are    you,    who    are    thus 
made  by  hands  could  not  destroy  Christi-  s  grossly  mistaken  in  the  nature  of  the  deity, 


anity,  while  the  living  temples  of  the  Lord )  and  so  ignorant  in  the  truth,  as  to  worship 
remained  :   for  the  true  faith  consisted  not  <  your   own    workmanship :   what   value    is 


in  the  places  where  God  is  adored,  but  in    there   in   gold,  silver,  brass,  iron,  or  lead, 


the  hearts  of  those  who  adore  him. 


which  are  dug  out  of  the  earth?     You  are 


Being,  however,    denied    entrance  into  «-  unacquainted  with  the   divinity  of  Christ, 
the    church,    where    he    used   to    preach,  >  which  is   incomprehensible  to  human  ca- 
Philip  took  up  his  station  at  the  door,  and  >  pacities ;  but  what  power  can  your  idols 
there  exhorted  the  people  to  patience  and  /  boast,  which  are  made  by  base  mechanics,  I 
perseverance.  j  a  drunken  statuary,  or  a  debauched  carver,  I 

These  things  caused  him  to  be  seized  |  and  tricked  up  by  the  arts  of  the  tailor,  and 
and  carried  before  the  governor,  who  se-  ?  the  goldsmith  ?  and  yet  these  are  your  S 
verely  reprimanded  him,  and  then  contin-  i  gods."  And  after  some  other  observations  \ 
ued  to  speak  sternly  in  these  words  :  /  on  the  absurdities  of  the  pagan  religion,  he 
"  Bring  all  the  vessels  used  in  your  wor- 1  concluded,  that,  from  what  he  had  already 
ship,  and  the  scriptures  which  you  read  <  said,  it  appeared  that  the  heathens  wor- 
and  teach  the  people,  and  surrender  them  l  shipped  what  might  lawfully  be  trod  on, 
to  me,  before  you  are  forced  thereto  by 
tortures." — "  If,"  replied  the  bishop,  "  you 
take  any  pleasure  in  seeing  us  suffer,  we 
are  prepared  for  the  worst  you  can  do. 
This  infirm  body  is  in  your  power ;  use  it 
as  you  please.  The  vessels  you  demand 
shall  be  delivered  up,  for  God  is  not  hon- 
ored by  gold  and  silver,  but.  by  the  fear  of 
his  power  ;  the  ornaments  of  the  souls  of 
his  servants  are  more  pleasing  to  him  than 


and  made  gods  of  such  things  as  Prov- 
idence had  designed  for  their  use. 

The  governor  then  tried  the  constancy 
of  Hermes,  but  finding  him  as  inflexible  as 
the  bishop,  he  committed  them  both  to 
prison.  Soon  after  this,  the  governor's 
time  of  ruling  their  parts  being  expired,  a 
new  governor  named  Justin  arrived  ;  but  he 
was  to  the  full  as  cruel  as  his  predecessor. 

Philip  was  dragged  by  the  feet  through 


the  decorations  of  churches  :  but  as  to  the  <  the  streets,  severely  scourged,  and  then 
sacred  books,  it  is  neither  proper  for  me  to  i  brought  again  to  the  governor,  who  charged 
part  with  them,  nor  for  you  to  receive  <  him  with  obstinate  rashness,  in  continuing 
them."  This  answer  so  much  incensed  the  <  disobedient  to  the  imperial  decrees,  but  he 
governor,  that  he  ordered  one  Mucassor,  a  <  boldly  replied  :  "  My  present  behavior  i? 


person  particularly  distinguished  for  inhu- 
manity, to  torture  the  prelate.  Hermes, 
expressing  himself  freely  against  such 
barbarities,  was  likewise  ordered  to  be 
scourged. 

Proceeding    to    the    place    where    the 


not  the  effect  of  rashness,  but  proceeds 
from  my  love  and  fear  of  God,  who  made 
the  world,  and  who  will  judge  the  living 
and  the  dead,  whose  commands  I  dare  not 
transgress.  I  have  hitherto  done  my  duty 
to  the   emperors,  and  am  always  ready  to 


scriptures  and  the  church-plate  were  kept,  j  comply  with  their  just  orders,  according  to 
both  were  seized  by  the  pagans  ;  the  s  the  doctrine  of  our  Lord  Christ,  who  bids 
church  was  unroofed,  the  doors  were  5  us  give  both  to  Crcsar  and  to  God  their 
walled  up,  the  plate  was  embezzled,  and  \  due  ;  but  I  am  obliged  to  prefer  heaven  to 


the  scriptures  were  burned. 


\  earth,  and  to  obey  God  rather  than  man." 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


59 


The  governor,  on  hearing  this   speech,  I  bad  morals,  and  having  spent  his  wife's  and 
immediately  passed  sentence  upon  him  to    his  own  patrimony,  he  had  the  baseness  to 
be  burnt,  which  was  executed  accordingly,  \  inform  against  her  as  a  Christian, 
and  the  martyr  expired,  singing  praises  to  j      Publius,  however,  dying  soon  after,  his 
God  in  the  midst  of  the  flames.  }  wife  was  released  ;  but  continuing  to  per- 

Agricola,  as  we  are  informed  by  St.  form  many  charitable  acts  to  distressed 
Ambrose,  was  a  Christian  of  so  very  amia- j  Christians,  she  was  again  apprehended 
ble  a  disposition,  that  he  even  gained  the  \  and  delivered  up  to  Florus,  governor  of 
esteem  and  admiration  of  many  pagans.  \  Illyricum.  Florus  commanded  that  she 
Being  apprehended  as  a  Christian,  he  was  should  be  put  to  the  torture,  when  finding 
crucified  in  imitation  of  the  death  of  our  \  her  constant  in  the  faith,  he  ordered  her  to 
Savior ;  and  his  body,  together  with  the  \  be  burnt,  which  sentence  was  put  in  ex- 
cross,  were  buried  in  one  grave,  at  Bologne,  ecution  on  December  25,  A.  D.  304.  The 
in  Italy.  \  event  taking  place  about  a  month  after  the 

Yitalis,  the  servant  and  convert  of  the  martyrdom  of  Chrysogonus  her  instructor, 
above  martyr,  Agricola,  was  seized  upon  <  Mouris  and  Thea,  two  Christian  women 
on  the  same  account  as  his  master,  and  <  of  Gaza,  were  martyred  in  that  city  some 
being  put  to  torture,  died  under  the  hands  <  time  in  the  year  304.  The  former  died 
of  his  tormentors,  through  the  severity  of  <  under  the  hands  of  her  tormenters,  and  the 
his  sufferings.  I  latter  perished  in  prison,  of  the   wounds 

Victorius  Carpophorus,  Severus,  and  <  she  had  received  in  being  tortured 
Severianus,  were  brothers,  and  all  four  \  Amphianus  was  a  gentleman  of  eminence 
employed  in  places  of  great  trust  and  honor  \  in  Lucia,  and  a  scholar  to  Eusebius  ;  pres- 
in  the  city  of  Rome.  Having  exclaimed  \  sing  through  the  crowd  while  the  procla- 
against  the  worship  of  idols,  they  were  ap-  s  mation  for  sacrificing  to  idols  was  read,  he 
prehended  and  scourged  with  the  plumbetae,  \  caught  the  governor,  Urbianus,  by  the  hand, 
or  scourges,  to  the  ends  of  which  were  \  and  severely  reproved  him  for  his  impiety, 
fastened  leaden  balls.  This  punishment  s  The  governor  being  highly  incensed  at 
was  exercised  with  such  excess  of  cruelty,]  this  freedom,  ordered  him  to  be  put  to  the 
that  the  pious  brothers  fell  martyrs  to  its  i  torture,  and  then  thrown  into  the  sea,  in 
severity.  \  the  waves  of  which  he  expired. 

Chrysogonus,  a  worthy  Christian  of  s  tEdesius,  brother  to  the  above  martyr, 
Aquileia,  was  beheaded  by  order  of  Dio-  s  was,  for  nearly  the  same  offence,  much 
clesian,  for  having  instructed  a  young  lady  s  about  the  same  time,  martyred  in  a  similar 
of  that  city  in  the  Christian  faith.  s  manner  at  Alexandria. 

Anastasia,  the  young  lady  brought  up  j  Julitta,  a  Lyconian  of  royal  descent, 
by  the  foregoing  martyr,  was  descended  s  but  more  celebrated  for  her  virtues  than 
from  an  illustrious  Roman  family.  Her  !,  noble  blood,  was  a  Christian  lady  of  great 
mother,   named    Flavia,   was  a   Christian,  s  humility. 

and  dying  while  her  daughter  was  an  in- 1  When  the  edict  for  sacrificing  to  idols 
fant,  she  bequeathed  her  to  the  care  of  s  was  published  at  Iconium,  she  withdrew 
Chrysogonus,  with  a  strict  injunction  to  I  from  that  city  to  avoid  the  bigoted  rage  of 
instruct  her  in  the  principles  of  Christian-  5  Domitian,  the  governor,  taking  with  her 
ity.  This  Chrysogonus  punctually  per- 1  only  her  young  son  Cyricus,  and  two 
formed  ;  but  the  father  of  the  young  lady,  >  women  servants.  She  was,  however,  seiz- 
who  was  a  pagan,  gave  her  in  marriage  to  >  ed  at  Tarsus,  and  being  carried  before 
a  person  of  his  own  persuasion,  named  5  Alexander,  the  governor,  she  acknowledged 
Publius.  >  that  she  was  a  Christian. 

The  husband  was  of  a  good  family,  but  >      For  this  confession  her  son  was   taken 


H" 


60 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MAKTYROLOGY. 


from  her,  and  she  was  put  to  the  rack,  and    tian,  which  he  had  not  before  known,  or- 
tortured  with  great  severity  ;  but  she  bore  \  dered  him  to  be  tortured,  and  then  behead- 
all  her  sufferings  with  a  true  Christian  for-  \  ed,  which  was  done  July  27,  A.  D.  305. 
titude.  I      Hermolaus,    a    venerable    and     pious 

Young  Cyricus   cried  bitterly  to  get  at  \  Christian  of  a  great  age,  and   an   intimate 
his  mother ,  when  the  governor  observing    acquaintance  of  Pantaleon's,  suffered  mar-  ] 
the  beauty,  and  being  melted  at  the  tears    tyrdom  for  his  faith  on  the  same  day,  and  • 
of  the  child,  took  him  upon   his   knee  and  ',  in  the  same  manner  as  Pantaleon. 
endeavored  to  pacify  him.     Nothing,  how-  \      Eustratius,  secretary  to  the   governor 
ever,  could  quiet  Cyricus,  he  still   called  \  of  Armenia,  was  thrown  into  a  fiery  fur- 
qpon  the  name  of  his  mother,  and  at  length,  >  nace,  for  exhorting  some   Christians,  who  ', 
in   imitation  of  her  words,  lisped  out,  "  I  '?  had  been  apprehended,  to  persevere  in  their  < 
am  a  Christian."     This  innocent  expres- >  faith.     Auxeutius,  and  Eugenius,  two  of   ' 
sion  converted  the  governor's  compassion  >  Eustratius's  adherents,  were  burnt  at  Ni- 
into  rage  ;  he  lost  the   man   in   the   bigot,  >  copolis  ;  Mardarius,  another  friend  of  his,  \ 
and    throwing  the  child   furiously  against  \  expired  under  the  hands  of  his  tormentors  ;  \ 


\  the  pavement,  dashed  out  its  brains. 
\  The  mother,  who  from  the  rack  beheld 
I  the  whole  transaction,  thanked  the  Al- 
\  mighty  that  her  child  was  gone  before  her  ; 
^  and  she  should  be  without  any  anxiety  con- 


and  Orestes,  a  military  officer,  was,  for 
wearing  a  golden  cross  at  his  breast, 
broiled  to  death  on  a  gridiron. 

Theodore,  a  Syrian  by  birth,  a  soldier 
by  profession,  and  a  Christian  by  faith,  set 


<  cerning  his  future  welfare,  and  certain  that  i  fire  to  the   temple   of   Cybele,  in  Amasia, 

<  now  no  advantage  could  be  taken  of  his  i  through  an  honest  indignation  at  the  idol- 
tender  years,  to  pervert  his  principles,  and  j  atrous  worship  practised  therein  :  for  which 
defraud  him  of  his  salvation.  <  being     apprehended,     he    was     severely 

I  To  complete  the  execution,  Julitta  had  '  scourged  and  then  burnt,  February  18,  A. 
i  boiling  pitch  poured  on  her  feet,  her  sides  <  D.  306. 

\  torn  with  hooks,  and  received  the  conclu-  \  Dorothy,  a  Christian  of  Cappadocia, 
\  sion  of  her  martyrdom  by  being  beheaded,  \  was,  by  the  governor's  order,  placed  under 
\  April  16,  A.  D.  305.     (See  engraving.)       <  the  care  of  two  women,  who  had  become 


s       Pantaleon,  a  native  of  Nicomedia,  was  <  apostates  to  the  faith,  with  a  view  that  she 
i  taught  most  branches  of  human  learning  by  <  might  be  induced  to  follow  their  example. 
$  his  father,  who  was  a  pagan,  and  the  pre-  \      Her  discourses,  however,  had  such  an  ' 
|  cepts   of  the  gospel  by  his   mother,  who  <  effect  upon  the  two  apostates,  that  they  be- 
i  was  a  Christian.  \  came  reconverted,  and  were  put  to  death 

<  Applying  to  the  study  of  medicine,  he  <  for  not  succeeding.  Soon  after  which 
i  became  eminent  in  the  knowledge  of  physic,  <  Dorothy  herself  was  tortured,  and  then  be- 
|  and  in  process  of  time  was  appointed  phy-  <  headed. 


sician  to  the  emperor  Galerius. 


Pancratius,  or  Pancrass,  was   a  na- 


His  name  in  Greek  signifies  humane,  and  <  tive  of  Phrygia,  but  being  made  a  Chris- 
the  appellation  well  suited  his  nature,  for  he  I  tian,  and  brought  to  Rome  by  his  uncle, 
was  one  of  the  most  benevolent  men  living.  <  he  there  suffered  martyrdom,  being  be- 
He  assisted  the  poor  to  the  utmost,  with  his  <  headed  soon  after  the  decease  of  his  uncle, 
fortune  ;  and,  by  the  help  of  God,  his  skill  <  who  died  a  natural  death. 


in  physic  was  attended  with   the  most  as- 
tonishing success. 


Basilides,  Nabor,  Nazarius,  and  Cv- 
I  rinus,  four  worthy   Christian   officers    at 


5       His  reputation  roused  the  jealousy  of  the  \  Rome,  were  thrown  into   prison  for  their 

pagan  physicians,  who  accused  him  to  the  \  faith,  and  being  condemned  were  scourged 

>  emperor.     Galerius   finding  him  a  Chris-  \  with  rods  of  wire  and  then  beheaded. 


MARTYRDOr.I    OF    JULITTA,    A    LICONTAN. — PaM  61. 


£ 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


63 


PERSECUTIONS  AGAINST  THE  CHRISTIANS  IN  PERSIA. 


HE  gospel  having  spread  ] 
itself  in  Persia,  the  pa-  s 
gan  priests  were  greatly 
alarmed,    and    dreaded  j 
the  loss  of  that  influence  5 
which  they  had  hitherto 
maintained  over    the   people's   minds   and  s 
properties.     Hence  they  thought  it   expe-  > 
dient  to  complain  to  the  emperor  that  the  \ 
Christians  were  enemies   to  the  state,  and  \ 
held  a  treasonable  correspondence  with  the 
Romans,  the  great  enemies  of  Persia. 

The  emperor,  being  naturally  averse  to  ^ 
Christianity,  easily  believed  what  was  said  ] 
against  the  Christians,  and  gave  orders  to  I 
persecute  them  in  all  parts  of  his  empire. 
On  account  of  this  mandate  many  fell  mar- 
tyrs to  the  ignorance   and   ferocity  of  the 
pagans,  the  sufferings  of  the  most  eminent 
of  whom  we  shall  enumerate. 

Simeon,  archbishop  of  Selencia,  with 
many  other  ecclesiastics,  to  the  number  of 
a  hundred  and  twenty-eight,  were  appre- 
hended and  accused  of  having  betrayed  the 
affairs  of  Persia  to  the  Romans 

The  emperor  being  greatly  exasperated 
against  them,  ordered  Simeon  to  be  brought 
before  him.  The  worthy  archbishop  com- 
ing into  his  presence,  boldly  acknowledged 
his  faith,  and  nobly  defended  the  cause  of 
Christianity.  The  emperor,  being  offend- 
ed at  his  freedom,  not  only  reproved  him 
for  it,  but  ordered  him  to  kneel  before  him, 
as  he  had  always  done  heretofore. 

Simeon  answered,  that  "  before,  having 
the  free  admittance  to  his  presence,  he  did 
not  scruple  to  conform  to  the  customary 
salutation  of  the  country ;  but  being  now 
brought  before  him  a  prisoner,  for  the  truth 
of  his  religion,  and  the  sake  of  his  God,  it 
was  not  lawful  for  him  to  kneel,  lest  he 
should  be  thought  to  worship  and  to  betray 
his  faith,  which  he  was  fully  resolved  to ) 
defend  with  his  last  breath."  } 


The  emperor  then  told  him  that  if  he  did 
not  kneel,  he,  and  all  the  Christians  in  his 
dominions,   should    be    put   to    death ;  but 
Simeon  rejected  with  disdain  the  proposal  ;' 
to  kneel,  and  told  him  that  he  would  abide  ? 
the  consequences.     On  this  reply  the  em-  I 
peror  ordered  him  to  be  sent  to  prison,  till  : 
he  had  considered  in  what  manner  to  pun- 
ish  him. 

A  short  time  after,  Simeon  with  his  fel- 
low-prisoners, was  again  examined,  and  j 
commanded  to  worship  the  sun,  agreeably  J 
to  the  Persian  custom  ;  but  this  they  all 
unanimously  refused.  The  emperor  then  J 
sentenced  them  to  be  beheaded,  and  they  j 
were  executed  accordingly.  J 

Usthazares,  an  aged  eunuch,  who  had 
been  tutor  to  the  emperor,  and  was  in  great  < 
estimation  at  court,  on  observing  Simeon,  < 
the    foregoing    martyr,    leading   to  prison,  < 
saluted  him.      Simeon,  however  (as  Ustha-  \ 
zares  had  formerly  been   a   Christian,  and  ? 
turned  apostate  from  the  faith  to  oblige  the 
emperor),  would  not  return  his  salute,  but 
sharply    reproved    him    for   his    apostacy.  < 
This  so  affected  the  eunuch,  that  he  burst 
into   tears,    and    exclaimed  :   "  Ah !  wo  is 
me  !  how  shall  I   hereafter  look  upon  my  j 
God,  whom   I  have  denied,  when  Simeon,  j 
my  old  companion,  and  familiar  acquaint-  j 
ance,  disdains  to  give   me  a  gentle  word, 
or  to  return  my  salute  !" 

The  emperor,  being  told  that  his  ancient 
tutor  was   greatly  afflicted,   sent  for  him, 
and  asked  whether  he  desired  or  wanted  \ 
anything  which  could  be  conferred  upon, 
or  procured  for  him.     To  which  the  eunuch  * 
replied   that   there    was    nothing   that   he 
wanted  which  this  earth  could  afford  ;  but  \ 
that  his  grief  was  of  another  kind,  and  for  > 
which  he  justly  mourned,  namely,  that  to  5 
oblige  him  he  had  denied  his  God,  and  had  j 
dissemblingly  worshipped  the  sun,  against  \ 
his  own  conscience  ;  "  for  which,"  contin-  \ 


% 


64 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MAltl\ltl)LOGY. 


ued  he,  "  I  am  deserving  of  a  double  death, 
first,  for  denying  of  Christ,  and  secondly 
for  dissembling  with  my  king  ;  at  the  same 
time  solemnly  protesting  that  he  would 
nevermore  forsake  the  Creator  of  the  world, 
to  worship  the  creatures  which  he  had 
made. 
|  'The  emperor  being  greatly  offended  at 
\  the  explanation  of  the  cause  of  his  grief, 
\  ordered  Usthazares  to  be  beheaded.  While 
he  was  going  to  the  place  of  execution,  he 
desired  that  a  messenger  might  be  sent  to 
the  emperor,  to  request  the  favor  that  it 
might  be  proclaimed,  that  "  Usthazares 
did  not  die  a  traitor  for  any  crime  against 
the  king  or  the  state  :  but  only  that  being 
a  Christian,  he  would  not  deny  his  God." 
This  petition,  we  are  informed,  was  grant- 
ed, and  accordingly  performed ;  which 
was  a  great  satisfaction  to  Usthazares, 
whose  chief  reason  for  desiring  it  was,  be- 
cause his  falling  off  from  Christ  had  caused 
many  others  to  follow  his  example,  who 
now  hearing  that  he  died  for  no  crime  but 
his  religion,  they  might  learn,  like  him,  to 
/eturn  to  Christ,  and  become  fervent  and 
constant  in  the  faith.  Usthazares,  being 
thus  satisfied,  cheerfully  yielded  his  neck 
xO  the  stroke  of  the  executioner,  and  joy- 
fully received  his  crown  of  martyrdom. 

On  the  Good  Friday,  after  the  above  ex- 
ecution, an  edict  was  published,  to  put  to 
death  all  who  confessed  themselves  Chris- 
tians, on  which  occasion  great  multitudes 
suffered.  About  this  time  the  empress  of 
Persia  falling  sick,  the  sisters  of  Simeon, 
the  archbishop,  were  accused  by  some  of 
the  magi,  of  being  the  occasion.  This 
absurdity  being  believed,  they  were,  by 
the  emperor's  order,  sawed  in  quarters,  and 
their  quarters  fixed  upon  poles,  between 
which  the  empress  passed  as  a  charm  to 
recover  her.  (See  engraving.) 

Acepsimus,  and  many  other  clergymen, 
were  seized  upon,  and  ordered  to  adore  the 
sun  ;  which  refusing,  they  were  scourged, 
and  then  tormented  to  death,  or  suffered  to 
remain  in  prison  till  they  perished. 


SuENEs.a  Christian  nobleman,  refusing 
to  deny  Christ,  had  his  wife  taken  from 
him,  and  given  to  one  of  the  meanest  of 
the  emperor's  slaves  ;  and  what  added  to 
his  mortification  was,  that  he  was  ordered 
to  wait  upon  his  wife  and  the  slave,  which 
at  length  broke  his  heart. 

Theodoret,  a  deacon,  was  imprisoned 
for  the  space  of  two  years,  and  being  re- 
leased, was  ordered  not  to  preach  the  doc- 
trine of  Christ.  Disregarding,  however, 
the  order,  he  did  his  utmost  to  propagate 
the  gospel  of  Christ  ;  for  which  being 
seized  upon,  he  was  miserably  tormented, 
by  having  sharp  reeds  thrust  under  his 
nails  ;  and  then  a  knotted  branch  of  a  tree 
was  forced  up  his  body,  and  he  expired  in 
the  greatest  agonies. 

Bademus,  a  Christian  of  Mesopotamia, 
gave  away  his  fortune  to  the  poor,  and  de- 
termined to  devote  his  life  to  a  religious 
retirement ;  being  filled  with  the  humble 
sentiments  thus  finely  described  by  the 
poet : — 

"  Blessed  be  his  name,  whose  matchless  goodness 
sends 
A  fund  of  blessings  and  a  choice  of  friends : 
Unawed  by  custom,  tyrant  of  mankind, 
Faithful  to  reason,  sovereign  of  the  mind, 
Serene  I  steer  through  life's  tempestuous  sea, 
My  pilot  faith,  my  chart  Christianity. 
The  wrecks  of  pride,  the  insolence  of  power, 
Earth's  transient  glittering  bubbles  of  an  hour; 
Envenomed  tongues  ;  law  with  its  mazy  snares, 
The  din  of  folly  and  the  broil  of  wars, 
Proclaim  to  all,  with  one  united  voice, 
That  humble  virtue  is  the  wisest  choice." 

This  inoffensive  Christian,  together  with 
seven  others,  were  seized  upon  and  cruelly 
tortured  for  being  Christians.  The  seven 
Christians,  who  were  apprehended  with 
Bademus,  received  the  crown  of  martyr- 
dom, though  the  particular  manner  is  not 
recorded  :  and  Bademus  himself,  after 
having  been  four  months  in  prison,  was 
brought  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  be- 
headed by  Narses,  an  apostate  Christian, 
who  was  ordered  to  act  as  the  executioner 
of  this  worthy  man,  in  order  to  convince 
the  emperor  that  he  was  sincere  in  the 
renunciation  of  his  faith. 


R- 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


65 


THE  PERSECUTIONS  UNDER  THE  ARIAN  HERETICS. 


HE  author  of  the  Arian  her- 
esy was  Arius,  a  native  of 
Libya,  and  a  priest  of 
Alexandria,  who,  in  A.  D. 
318,  began  to  publish  his 
errors.  He  was  condemn- 
ed by  a  council  of  the  Libyan  and  Egyp- 
\  tian  bishops,  and  that  sentence  was  con- 
\  firmed  by  the  council  of  Nice,  A.  D.  325. 
After  the  death  of  Constantine  the  Great, 
the  Arians  found  means  to  ingratiate  them- 
selves into  the  favor  of  Constantius,  his 
son  and  successor  in  the  east  ;  and  hence 
a  persecution  was  raised  against  the  or- 
thodox bishops  and  clergy.  The  celebra- 
ted Athanasius  and  other  bishops  were 
banished,  and  their  sees  filled  with  Arians. 
In  Egypt  and  Libya  thirty  bishops  were 
martyred,  and  many  other  Christians  cru- 
elly tormented;  and,  A.  D.  336,  George, 
the  Arian  bishop  of  Alexandria,  under  the 
authority  of  the  emperor,  began  a  perse- 
cution in  that  city,  and  its  environs,  and 
carried  it  on  with  the  most  infernal  sever- 
ity. He  was  assisted  in  his  diabolical 
malice  by  Catophonius,  governor  of  Egypt ; 
Sebastian,  general  of  the  Egyptian  forces  ; 
Faustinus,  the  treasurer ;  and  Heraclius, 
a  Roman  officer. 

The  persecution  now  raged  in  such  a 
manner,  that  the  clergy  were  driven  from 
Alexandria,  their  churches  were  shut,  and 
the  severities  practised  by  the  Arian  here- 
tics were  as  great  as  those  which  had  been 
practised  by  the  pagan  idolators.  If  a  man 
accused  of  being  a  Christian,  made  his  es- 
cape, then  his  whole  family  were  massa- 
cred, and  his  effects  confiscated. 

The  orthodox  Christians,  being  now  de- 
prived of  all  places  of  public  worship  in 
\  the    city  of  Alexandria,  used  to    perform 

i  their  devotions  in  a  desert  place,  at  some 
distance   from    it.       Assembling   for    this 
purpose  on  a  Trinity  Sunday,  George,  the 
».  5 


Arian  bishop,  engaged  Sebastian,  the  gen- 
eral, to  fall  upon  them  with  his  soldiers, 
while  they  were  at  prayers.  On  this  oc- 
casion several  fella  sacrifice  to  the  popular 

.fury  of  the  troops,  and  received  the  crown 
of  martyrdom  for  no  other  offence  than  per- 
forming necessary  acts  of  piety.  The 
modes  of  cruelty  were  various,  and  the 
degrees  different ;  for  they  were  beaten 
over  their  faces  till  all  their  features  were 
disfigured  ;    then  they   were    lashed  with 

I  twigs  of  palm-trees,  newly  cut,  with  such 
violence,  that  they  expired  under  the  blows, 
or  by  the  mortification  of  the  wounds. 

Many,  whose  lives  had  been  spared, 
were,  however,  banished  to  the  deserts  of 
Oasis,  where  they  suffered  unspeakable 
hardships  ;  but  their  exile  admitted  of  their 
indulgence  of  the  most  pious  thoughts,  and 
their  sorrows  were  of  a  salutary  nature. 

u  Alas,  how  vain  is  happiness  below, 
Man  soon  or  late  must  have  his  share  of  wo  j 
Slight  are  his  joys,  and  fleeting  as  the  wind, 
His  griefs  wound  home,  and  leave  a  sting  behind  ; 
His  lot  distinguished,  from  the  brute  appears, 
Less  certain  by  his  laughter  than  his  tears  ; 
For  ignorance  too  oft  our  pleasure  breeds, 
But  sorrow  from  the  reasoning  soul  proceeds.'' 


Secuxdus,  an  orthodox  priest,  differing 
in  point  of  doctrine  from  a  prelate  of  the 
same  name  ;  the  bishop,  who  had  imbibed 
all  the  heretical  opinions  of  Arianism,  de- 
termined to  put  Secundus  to  death  for  re- 
jecting opinions  which  he  had  thought 
proper  to  embrace.  Taking  one  Stephen 
with  him,  who  was  as  much  an  Arian  as 
himself,  they  sought  out  Secundus  privately, 
and  being  unable  to  make  him  change  his 
opinion,  they  fell  upon  and  murdered  him  ; 
when  the  holy  martyr,  just  before  he  ex- 
pired, called  upon  Christ  to  receive  his 
soul,  and  to  forgive  his  executioners. 

Not  content  with  the  cruelties  exercised 
upon  the  orthodox  Christians  in  Alexandria, 
the  principal  persecutors  applied  to  the  em- 
peror for  an  order   to   banish  them   from 


66 


*n 


TIIK    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


Egypt  and  Libya,  and  to  put  their  churches 
into  the  possession  of  the  Arians. 

They  obtained  their  request,  and  an  or- 
der was  sent  for  that  purpose  to  Sebastian, 
the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Roman  for- 
ces in  those  provinces. 

As  soon  as  the  general  received  the  or- 
der, he  signified  the  emperor's  pleasure  to 
all  the  sub-governors  and  officers,  and  com- 
manded that  the  mandate  should  be  imme- 
diately put  into  execution.  Hence  a  great 
number  of  the  clergy  were  seized,  and 
imprisoned  for  examination ;  when  it  ap- 
pearing that  they  adopted  the  opinions  of 
Athanasius,  an  order  was  signed  for  their 
banishment  into  the  most  wild,  uncultivated, 
and  desert  places.  Thus  were  the  ortho- 
dox clergy  used,  and  many  of  the  laity 
were  condemned  to  the  mines,  or  compel- 
led to  work  in  the  quarries.  Some  few 
indeed  escaped  to  other  countries,  and  sev- 
eral were  weak  enough  to  renounce  their 
faith,  in  order  to  avoid  the  severities  of  the 
persecution. 

Paul,  the  bishop  of  Constantinople,  was 
a  Macedonian  by  birth,  and  was  designed, 
from  his  birth,  for  a  clerical  life. 

When  Alexander,  the  predecessor  of 
Paul,  was  on  his  deathbed,  he  was  con- 
sulted by  some  of  the  clergy  on  the  choice 
of  a  successor  ;  when,  we  are  informed, 
he  told  them  that,  "  if  they  were  disposed 
to  choose  a  person  of  an  exemplary  life, 
unexceptionable  character,  and  thoroughly 
capable  of  instructing  the  people,  Paul  was 
the  man  ;  who,  though  young,  had  all  the 
prudence  and  gravity  of  more  advanced 
age  ;  but  if  they  had  rather  have  a  person 
of  a  well-composed  appearance,  acquainted 
with  worldly  affairs,  and  fit  for  the  conver- 
sation of  a  court,  they  might  then  choose 
Macedonius,  who  had  all  the  proper  quali- 
fications. Macedonius  was  a  deacon  in 
the  church  of  Constantinople,  in  which 
office  he  had  spent  many  years,  and  gained 
great  experience  ;  and  the  dying  prelate 
did  both  him  and  Paul  justice  in  their  dif- 
ferent characters.  Nevertheless,  the  Ari- 
ans, with  their   accustomed  disingenuous- 


ness,  gave  out,  that  Alexander  had  be- 
stowed great  commendations  on  Macedo- 
nius for  sanctity,  and  had  only  given  Paul 
the  reputation  of  eloquence,  and  a  capacity 
for  business  :  it  is  true,  indeed,  he  was  a 
master  in  the  art  of  speaking  and  persua- 
ding ;  but  the  sequel  of  his  life  and  suffer- 
ings sufficiently  evinced  the  absurdity  of 
their  deeming  him  a  man  formed  for  the 
world.  But,  after  some  struggle,  the  ortho- 
dox triumphed,  and  Paul  was  consecrated. 
Macedonius  being  greatly  offended  at 
this  preference,  did  his  utmost  to  calumni- 
ate the  new  bishop,  and  was  very  severe 
upon  his  moral  character  ;  but  not  gaining 
any  belief,  he  dropped  the  charge,  and  rec- 
onciled himself  to  Paul.  This,  however, 
was  not  the  case  with  Eusebius  of  Nico- 
media,  who  resumed  the  accusations  under 
two  heads,  viz  : — 

1.  That  he  had  led  a  disorderly  life  be- 
fore his  consecration. 

2.  That  he  had  been  placed  in  the  see 
of  Constantinople  without  the  consent  of 
the  bishops  of  Nicomedia  and  Heraclea, 
two  metropolitans,  who  ought  to  have  been 
consulted  upon  that  occasion. 

To  support  these  accusations,  Eusebius 
procured  the  emperor's  authority,  by  repre- 
senting, that  Paul  having  been  chosen 
during  the  absence  of  Constantius,  the  im- 
perial dignity  had  been  insulted.  This 
artifice  succeeded,  and  Paul  being  deposed, 
Eusebius  was  placed  in  his  room. 

Paul  having  lost  his  authority  in  the 
east,  retired  to  the  territories  of  Constans, 
in  the  west,  where  he  was  well  received 
by  the  orthodox  prelates  and  clergy.  At 
Rome  he  visited  Athanasius,  and  assisted 
at  a  council  held  there,  by  Julius,  the  bishop 
of  that  see.  Letters  being  written  by  this 
council  to  the  eastern  prelates,  Paul  re- 
turned to  Constantinople,  but  was  not  re- 
stored to  his  bishopric  till  the  death  of 
Eusebius.  The  Arians,  however,  consti- 
tuting Macedonius  their  bishop,  by  the 
title  of  bishop  of  Constantinople,  a  sedition, 
and  a  kind  of  civil  war  ensued,  in  which, 
many  lost  their  lives. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


67 


The  emperor  Constantius,  who  was  then 
at  Antioch,  hearing  of  these  matters,  laid 
the  whole  blame  upon  Paul,  and  ordered 
that  he  should  be  driven  from  Constanti- 
nople. Hermogenes,  the  officer,  who  had 
received  the  emperor's  order,  attempted  in 
vain  to  put  it  into  execution  ;  for  the  ortho- 
dox Christians  rising  in  defence  of  Paul, 
Hermogenes  was  killed  in  a  scuffle  that 
ensued. 

This  transaction  greatly  exasperated  the 
emperor,  who  left  Antioch  though  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  and  immediately  returned 
to  Constantinople,  with  a  design  severely 
to  punish  the  Christians.  But  their  sub- 
mission and  entreaties  softened  him,  and 
he  contented  himself  with  banishing  Paul 
and  suspending  Macedonius. 

Paul  retired  again  to  the  territories  of; 
Constans,  implored  the  protection  of  that 
emperor,  and,  by  his  intercession,  was 
again  invested  in  his  see.  On  this  occa- 
sion, we  are  informed,  that  "  his  re-estab- 
lishment did  but  exasperate  his  enemies, 
who  were  at  that  time  constantly  employed, 
both  in  secret  and  open  attempts  against 
his  life,  against  which  the  affections  of  his 
people  were  his  only  security ;  and  being 
convinced  that  the  emperor  had  no  other 
motive  for  allowing  his  stay  at  Constanti- 
nople, but  the  dread  of  disobliging  his 
brother.  Paul  could  not  think  himself! 
wholly  restored  to  his  bishopric,  while 
things  were  in  this  situation ;  and  being 
very  much  concerned  at  what  the  orthodox 
bishops  suffered  from  the  power  and  malice 
of  the  Arian  faction,  joined  Athanasius, 
who  was  then  in  Italy  in  soliciting  a  gen- 
eral council." 

A  council  was  accordingly  held  at  Sar- 
dica,  in  Illyrium,  in  the  year  347,  at  which 
were  present  one  hundred  bishops  of  the 
western,  and  seventy-three  of  the  eastern 
empire.  But  disagreeing  in  many  points, 
the  Arian  bishops  of  the  east  retired  to 
Philippolis,  in  Thrace  ;  and  forming  a 
meeting  there,  they  termed  it  the  council, 
of  Sardica.     From  this  place  they  pretend- 


ed to  issue  out  an  excommunication  against 
Julius,  bishop  of  Rome  ;  Paul,  bishop  of 
Constantinople  ;  Athanasius,  bishop  of 
Alexandria  ;  and  several  other  prelates. 

In  A.  D.  350,  the  emperor  Constans  died, 
which  gave  the  Arians  fresh  courage,  and 
they  immediately  applied  to  the  emperor, 
Constantius,  who  being  an  Arian  in  his 
heart,  wrote  an  order  to  the  prefect  Philip, 
to  remove  Paul  from  the  bishopric  of  Con- 
stantinople, and  banish  him  again,  to  restore 
Macedonius. 

Being  exiled  to  Cucucus,  he  was  con- 
fined in  a  small,  loathsome,  dark  dungeon, 
where  he  was  kept  six  days  without  food, 
and  then  strangled.  He  met  death  with 
fortitude,  as  he  was  always  perfectly  re- 
signed in  misfortunes,  and  convinced  of  the 
vanity  of  this  transitory  life,  for  reasons 
similar  to  those  given  by  Solomon,  in  the 
expressive  passages,  which  have  been  thus 
finely  paraphrased : — 

"  Ye  sons  of  men,  with  just  regard  attend, 
Observe  the  preacher,  and  believe  the  friend, 
Whose  serious  muse  inspires  him  to  explain, 
That  all  we  act  and  all  we  think  is  vain. 
That  in  this  pilgrimage  of  seventy  years, 
O'er  rocks  of  perils  and  through  vales  of  tears, 
Destined  to  march,  our  doubtful  steps  we  tend, 
Tired  with  the  toil,  yet  fearful  of  its  end, 
That  from  the  womb  we  take  our  fatal  shares 
Of  follies,  passions,  labors,  tumults,  cares  : 
And  at  approach  of  death  shall  only  know 
The  truths,  which  from  these  pensive  numbers  flow, 
That  we  pursue  false  joy  and  suffer  real  wo." 

The  Arian  party  now  prevailing,  made 
Gregory  of  Cappadocia,  a  very  obscure  per- 
son, bishop  of  Alexandria,  after  having  de- 
posed Athanasius  for  his  strict  adherence 
to  the  orthodox  faith.  In  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  affair,  they  were  assisted  by 
Philagerius,  the  governor  of  Egypt,  who 
was  an  apostate,  and  who  suffered  them  to 
commit  all  manner  of  outrages.  Hence 
arming  themselves  with  swords,  clubs,  &c, 
they  broke  into  one  of  the  principal  churches 
of  Alexandria,  where  great  numbers  of  or- 
thodox Christians  were  assembled  at  their 
devotions  ;  and  falling  upon  them  in  a  most 
barbarous  manner,  without  the  least  respect 
to  sex  or  age,  the  principal  part  of  them 
were  murdered. 


■ 


68 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


3 


THE  PERSECUTION  UNDER  JULIAN  THE  APOSTATE. 

ULIAN    commonly    called  ]  clergy  of  the  privileges  granted  them   by 

the  apostate,  was  the  son  \  Constantine  the  Great. 

of     Julius     Constantius,  ^      Hence  was  this  persecution  more  dan- 

and  the  nephew  of  Con- '/  gerous  than  any  of  the  former,  as  Julian 

stantine  the  Great.      He  i  aimed  to  sap  the  foundations  of  Christianity, 

studied  the  rudiments  of  \  instead  of  attacking  the  superstructure,  and 

grammar    under   the   inspection   of    Mar-  <  under  the  mask  of  clemency,  practised  the 

donius  a  eunuch,  and  a  heathen  of  Con-  <  greatest  cruelty  in  wishing  to  delude  many 

stantinople.     His   father   sent  him  some-  <  thousands  of  their  eternal  salvation. 

time  after  to  Nicomedia,  to  be  instructed  in  <      The  Christian  faith  was  thus  in  more 

the  Christian  religion,  by  the  bishop  Euse-  <  danger  of  being  subverted  than  it  ever  had 

bius  his  kinsman  ;  but  his  principles  were  <  been  before,  by  the  means  of  a  monarch,  at 

corrupted  by  the   pernicious   doctrines   of    once  witty  and  wicked,  learned  and  hypo- 

Ecebolius   the    rhetorician,  and   Maximus    critical ;   who,  at  first,  made  his  attempts, 

the  magician.  <  not  by  the  means  of  fire,  sword,  and  poison, 

Constantius  dying  in  the  year  361,  Julian    but  by  flatteries,  gifts,  and  favors  ;  not  by 

succeeded  him,  and  had  no  sooner  attain-  \  using  racks  and  tortures,  but  by  bestowing 

ed  the  imperial   dignity,  than  he  renoun-  \  offices  and  dignities  ;  and  then,  by  prohibit- 

ced  Christianity,  and  embraced  paganism,  \  ing   Christian   schools,  he   compelled   the 

which  had  for  some  years  fallen  into  great  5  children  of  the  gospel  either  to  remain  il- 

disrepute.     But   he   again    restored   idola-  >  literate,  or  become  idolators. 

trous  worship,  by  opening  the  several  tern-  j      Other  methods  taken  by  Julian  were,  to 

pies  that  had  been  shut  up,  rebuilding  such  I  order  that  Christians  might  be  treated  cold- 

as  were  destroyed,  and  ordering  the  magis-    ly  upon  all  occasions,  and  in  all  parts  of  the 

trates  and  people  to  follow  his   example.  >  empire,  and  to  employ  several  witty  persons 

He  however,  made  no  public  edicts  against )  to  turn  them,  and  their  principles,  into  ridi- 

;>  Christianity,  but  tried  to  do  that  privately    cule.     Many  were  likewise  martyred  in  his 

|  which  other  emperors  had   done   openly,    reign ;  for  though  he  did  not  publicly  per- 

i  He  recalled  all  banished  pagans,  allowed    secute  them  himself,  he  connived  at  their 

s  the  free  exercise  of  religion  to  every  sect,  \  being  murdered  by  his  governors  and  offi- 

\  but    deprived    all   Christians   of  offices  at  $  cers  ;  and  though  he  affected  never  to  pa- 

\  court,  in  the  magistracy,  or  in  the  army.  ?  tronise  them  for  their  murders,  he  never 

\  He  was  chaste,  temperate,  vigilant,  labori-  j>  offered  to  punish  them  for  their  delinquency. 

I  ous,  and  seemingly  pious,  so  that  by  his  I  We  shall  recount  the  names,  sufferings,  and 

|  hypocrisy  and  pretended  virtues  he  for  a  i  martyrdoms  of  such  as  have  been  transmit- 

\  time  did  more  mischief  to  Christianity  than  \  ted  to  the  present  times,  that  their  example 

\  the  most  profligate  libertine  of  his  prede-  \  may  inspire  fortitude,  and  their  lives  give 

)  cessors.     Thus  he  attempted  to  undermine  \  a  useful  lesson  to  mankind  in  general. 

>  Christianity  by  artifice,  instead  of  expelling  \      Basil  made  himself  first  famous  by  his 

[  it  by  force  ;  and  to  make  his  measures  the  \  opposition  to  Arianism,  which  brought  upon 

\  more  effectual  he  prohibited  any  Christian  \  him  the  vengeance  of  the  Arian  bishop  of 

\  from  keeping  a  school  or  public  seminary  \  Constantinople,  who  issued   out  an  order 

)  of  learning,  and  deprived  all  the  Christian  \  to  prevent  his  preaching.     He  continued, 


'55 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


69 


however,  to  perform  his  duty  at  Ancyra, 
the  capital  of  Galatia.  Enraged  at  his  or- 
thodox and  manly  proceedings,  his  enemies 
accused  him  of  being  an  incendiary,  and  a 
disturber  of  the  public  peace  ;  the  monarch, 
however,  was  too  intent  on  an  expedition  to 
Persia,  to  take  notice  of  the  accusation, 
and  their  malice  at  that  time  was  disap- 
pointed. 

Basil  continued  to  preach  strenuously 
against  the  idolatry  of  paganism  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  errors  of  Arianism  on  the 
other  :  and  earnestly  exhorted  the  people  to 
serve  Christ,  in  the  purity  of  faith,  and  fer- 
vency of  truth.  By  this  conduct,  both 
heathens  and  Arians  were  exasperated 
against  him,  and  appeared  equally  desir- 
ous of  accomplishing  his  destruction. 

Meeting  one  day  with  a  number  of  pa- 
gans going  in  procession  to  a  sacrifice,  he 
boldly  expressed  his  abhorrence  of  such  idol- 
atrous proceedings,  and  inveighed  against 
such  absurd  worship,  at  once  in  a  manly 
and  decent  manner.  This  freedom  caused 
the  people  to  seize  him,  and  carry  him  be- 
fore Saturninus,  the  governor,  where  they 
brought  three  accusations  against  him, 
viz : — 

1.  Reviling  the  gods. 

2.  Abusing  the  emperor. 

3.  Disturbing  the  peace  of  the  city. 

On  hearing  these  accusations  which  were 
equally  malicious  as  groundless,  Saturninus 
desired  to  know  his  sentiments  from  his 
own  mouth  ;  when  finding  him  a  strenuous 
Christian,  he  ordered  him  first  to  be  put  to 
the  rack,  and  then  he  committed  him  to 
prison. 

The  governor  wrote  an  account  of  his 
proceedings  to  the  emperor,  who  was  at 
this  time  very  busy  in  establishing  the 
worship  of  Cybele,  the  fictitious  mother 
of  the  fabulous  deities.  Julian,  upon  re- 
ceiving the  letter,  sent  Pagosus  and  Elpi- 
dius,  two  apostates,  to  Ancyra,  the  city 
where  Basil  was  confined,  to  employ  both 
promises  and  threats  to  engage  him  to  re- 
nounce his  faith,  and  in  case  of  their  fail- 
ure, to  give  him  up  totally  to  the  power  of 


the  governor  ;  for  it  was  the  policy  of  Julian 
to  appear  all  moderation  and  clemency, 
and  to  suffer  others,  as  much  as  possible, 
to  seem  the  ostensible  persons  in  acts  of 
cruelty.  In  this  affair,  however,  a  future 
circumstance  made  the  emperor  forego  his 
usual  policy,  and  sacrifice  his  affected  mer- 
cy to  his  resentment. 

The  emperor's  agents  in  vain  tampered 
with  Basil  by  means  of  promises,  threats, 
and  racks  ;  he  was  firm  in  the  faith,  and  re- 
mained in  prison  to  undergo  some  other 
sufferings  when  the  emperor  came  acci- 
dentally to  Ancyra. 

The  people  no  sooner  knew  of  Julian's 
approach,  than  they  met  him  in  grand  pro- 
cession, and  presented  to  him  their  idol, 
the  goddess  Hecate.  The  two  agents  then 
gave  the  emperor  an  account  of  what  Basil 
had  suffered,  and  how  firm  he  had  been. 
Julian,  on  this,  determined  to  examine 
Basil  himself,  when  that  holy  man  being 
brought  before  him,  the  emperor  did  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  dissuade  him  from 
persevering  in  the  faith.  Basil  not  only 
continued  as  firm  as  ever,  but,  with  pro- 
phetic spirit,  foretold  the  death  of  the  em- 
peror, and  that  he  should  be  tormented  in 
the  other  life. 

Enraged  at  what  he  heard,  Julian  lost 
his  usual  affectation  of  clemency,  and  told 
Basil,  in  great  anger,  that  though  he  had 
an  inclination  to  pardon  him  at  first,  yet  he 
had  now  put  it  out  of  his  power  to  save  his 
life,  by  the  insolence  of  his  behavior.  He 
then  commanded,  that  the  body  of  Basil 
should  be  torn  every  day  in  seven  different 
parts,  till  his  skin  and  flesh  were  entirely 
mangled.  This  inhuman  sentence  was  ex- 
ecuted with  rigor,  and  the  martyr  expired 
under  its  severities,  on  the  28th  day  of 
June,  A.  D.  362. 

Donatus,  bishop  of  Arezzo,  and  Hilar- 
inus,  a  hermit,  suffered  about  the  same 
time  for  the  faith  :  the  first  being  beheaded, 
and  the  latter  scourged  to  death. 

Gordian,  a  Roman  magistrate,  having  a 
Christian  brought  before  him  for  examina- 
tion, was  so  charmed  with  the  confession 


<*- 


70 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


of  his  faith,  that  he  not  only  discharged  the  S  taking  away  Constantine  the  Great's  stand- 
prisoner,  but  became  himself  a  Christian.  \  ard  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  threw  up  their  \ 
This  so  enraged  the  Roman  praefect,  that  <  commissions.     Being  apprehended  on  ac-  [ 
he  ordered  him  to  be  scourged  and  behead-  >  count  of  their  faith,  they  were  carried  be-  \ 
ed  ;  which  sentence  was  executed,  A.  D.  I  fore  the  governor  of  the  east,  who  com- 
362.  >  manded  them  to  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  and  ^ 

John  and  Paul,  two  brothers,  of  a  good    obey  the   emperor's   orders  ;   but  they  re- 
family,  and  in  high  olfices  under  the  em-  j  plied,  that  as  they  were  no  longer  his  sol-  ; 
peror,    on    being    accused    of    professing  \  diers,  but  the  soldiers  of  Christ,  they  would  ' 
Christianity,  were  deprived  of  their  posts,  '<  do  neither.     The  governor  had  them  sep-  : 
I  and  allowed  ten  days  to  consider,  whether  >  arately  examined,  and  finding  them  as  in- 
\  they  would  renounce  their  faith  and  be  pro-  \  flexible  when  asunder,  as  when  together, 
<  moted,  or  retain  their  faith  and  be  martyred?  \  he    ordered    Bonasus    to    be    beaten    with 
Making  choice  of  the  latter  alternative,  they  \  whips  that  had  leaden  bullets  at  the  ends  of 
\  were  both  beheaded,  A.  D.  362.  )  the  thongs,  and  Maximilian  to  be  scourged. 

\       Artemius,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Ro-  >      Being    remanded  back   to   prison,  they 
$  man  forces  in  Egypt,  being   a  Christian,  '>  were  allowed  nothing  but  bread  and  water  \ 
'/  had  these   two   charges  exhibited  against  >  for  subsistence,  and  the  bread  was  marked  , 
|  him  by  the  pagans.  I  with  the  seal  of  the  emperor,  the  impres-  ' 

1.  That    he    had    formerly    demolished    sion  of  which  was  an  idol ;  on  which  ac-  j 
\  several  idols  in  the  reign  of  Constantine  /  count  they  refused  to  eat  it.     They  were 

I  the  Great.  '    I  soon  afterward  again  examined,  and  then,  i 

2.  That  he  had  assisted  the  bishop  of  /  according  to  the  sentence  pronounced  upon  j 
Alexandria  in  plundering  the  temples.  \  them,  beheaded.  > 

On  the  exhibition  of  these  charges,  Juli-  \  Bibiana  was  the  daughter  of  Flavian  / 
an,  who  was  then  at  Antioch,  ordered  the  l  and  Dafrosa,  two  Christians.  Flavian  her  \ 
general  to  repair  thither,  in  order  to  answer  \  father,  held  a  considerable  post  under  the  \ 
to  them.  On  Artemius's  arrival,  he  owned  j  government,  but  being  banished  for  his  j 
the  charges,  and  his  faith  :  when  he  was  (  faith,  died  in  exile.  Dafrosa,  her  mother,  i 
first  deprived  of  his  commission,  then  of  his  <  was,  for  the  same  reason,  ordered  to  be  < 
estate,  and  lastly  of  his  head.  I  starved  ;  but  Apronianus,  governor  of  Rome,  5 

Cassian,  a  schoolmaster  of  Imola,  in  the  \  thinking  her  too  long  in  dying,  had  her  be-  < 
province  of  Romagna,  refusing  to  sacrifice  i  headed. 

to  the  idols,  was  hurried  before  the  judge  ;  \  Bibiana,  and  her  sister  Demetria,  after  ; 
who  being  apprized  of  his  profession,  and  <  the  death  of  their  parents,  were  stripped  of  ! 
informed  that  many  of  the  boys  had  an  i  all  their  effects,  and  being  brought  before  J 
\  aversion  to  him  on  account  of  the  strictness  the  governor,  were  ordered  to  renounce  their  \ 
with  which  he  kept  them  to  their  studies,  religion.  Demetria  suddenly  dropped  down 
determined  that  they  should  have  permis- 1  dead  in  the  governor's  presence,  and  Bi-  : 
sion  to  murder  their  master.  He  was  ac-  I  biana  resolutely  refused  to  renounce  her  '< 
conlingly  delivered,  with  his  hands  tied  >  faith ;  on  which  account  she  was  scourged  ! 
behind  him,  to  the  boys,  who  fell  upon  him  I  to  death,  December  2,  A.  D.  362. 
with  rods,  whips,  sticks,  and  stiles,  or  the  >  The  persecution  raged  dreadfully  about  j 
steel  pencils  which  were  then  used  in  >  the  latter  end  of  the  year  363  ;  but  as  many  : 
writing,  and  murdered  him.  This  singular  >  of  the  particulars  have  not  been  handed  down  s 
martyrdom  happened  on  the  1 3th  of  August,  >  to  us,  it  is  necessary  to  remark  in  general,  5 
A.  D.  362.     (See  engraving.)  \  that  in  Palestine  many  were  burnt  alive,  s 

Bonasus  and  Maximilian,  two  officers?  others  were  dragged  by  their  feet  through  \ 
of   the    Herculean    guards,    upon  Julian's  }  the  streets  naked  till  they  expired ;  some  ' 


CASSIAN,    A    CHRISTIAN    SCHOOLMASTER    OF    IMOLA,    SCOURGED    TO  DEATH. — Page  7 1 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


73 


were  scalded  to  death,  many  stoned,  and  J  tian  officers,  were  put  to  death  for  reproving 
great  numbers  had  their  brains  beaten  out  ?  the  emperor,  on  account  of  his  idolatries  ; 
with  clubs..  In  Alexandria  innumerable  but  the  manner  of  their  deaths  is  not  known, 
were  the  martyrs  who  suffered  by  the  j  We  shall  now  enter  upon  some  detach- 
sword,  burning,  crucifixion,  and  being  j  ed  particulars  necessary  to  be  preserved, 
stoned.     In  Arethusa  several  were  ripped  { and  finish  this  chapter  with  the  conclusion 

\  open,  and  corn  being  put  into  their  bellies,    of  the  persecutions  under  Julian  the  apos- 

|  swine  were  brought  to  feed  therein,  who,  i  tate. 

I  in  devouring  the  grain,  likewise  devoured  \      Julian  intending   an   expedition   against 
the  entrails  of  the  martyrs  ;  and  in  Thrace,  \  the  Persians,  set  a  large  fine  upon  every 
Emilianus  was  burnt  at  a  stake,  and  Do-  <  one  who  refused  to  sacrifice  to  the  idols, 
<  mitius  murdered  in  a  cave,  whither  he  had  \  and  by  that  means  got  a  great  sum  toward 
i  fled  for  refuge.  \  defraying  his  expenses  from  the  Christians. 

Theodorus,  for  his  faith,  and  singing  \  In  collecting  these  fines,  many  of  the 
\  the  praises  of  God,  was  apprehended  and  \  officers  exacted  more  than  their  due,  and 
|  put  to  the  tortures  of  a  martyr,  though  not '.  some  of  them  tortured  the  Christians  to 
|  to  death.  After  being  taken  from  the  rack,  make  them  pay  what  they  demanded,  at  the 
|  he  was  asked  how  he  could  so  patiently  same  time  telling  them  in  derision,  that 
|  endure  such  exquisite  tortures.  To  which  "  when  they  were  injured,  they  ought  to 
I  he  returned  this  remarkable  reply  :  "  At  the  \  take  it  patiently,  for  so  their  god  had  com- 
\  first  I  felt  some  pain,  but  afterward  there  s  manded  them." 

appeared  to  stand  by  me  a  young  man,  who  s  The  inhabitants  of  Caesarea  were  fined 
i  wiped  the  sweat  from  my  face,  and  fre-  \  three  hundred  weight  of  gold,  and  several 
<  quently  refreshed  me  with  cold  water,  \  of  the  clergy  obliged  to  serve  in  the  wars, 
'/  which  so  delighted  me,  that  I  regretted  be-  \  as  a  punishment  for  having  overthrown  the 
z  ing  let  down  from  the  rack."  i  temples  of  Jupiter,  Apollo,  and  Fortune. 

I  Marcus,  bishop  of  Arethusa,  having  de-  s  At  Meris,  in  Phrygia,  the  governor  hav- 
stroyed  a  pagan  temple  in  that  city,  erected  s  ing  cleansed  and  opened  a  pagan  temple, 
>  a  Christian  church  in  its  room,  on  which  \  the  Christians  in  the  night  broke  in,  and 
account  he  was  accused  to  Julian,  the  em-  \  demolished  the  idols.  Next  day  the  gov- 
peror,  as  a  Christian.  Being  apprehended,  s  ernor  ordered  all  Christians  that  accident- 
his  persecutors  had  no  respect  to  his  ven-  \  ally  came  in  the  way  to  be  seized,  that  he 
erable  person,  but  stripping  him  naked,  ]  might  make  examples  of  them,  and  by  this 
most  cruelly  beat  him.  He  was  then  i  means  was  going  to  execute  several  inno- 
thrust  into  a  filthy  jake,  or  sink,  till  he  \  cent  persons.  But  those  who  really  per- 
was  almost  suffocated ;  afterward  he  was  >  petrated  the  fact,  being  too  noble  and  just 
goaded  with  sharp-pointed  sticks  ;  and  last-  >  in  their  sentiments  to  suffer  such  an  in- 
ly, he  was  hung  up  in  a  basket  in  the  heat  >  justice,  voluntarily  delivered  themselves 
of  the  sun,  after  having  been  smeared  all  ]  up  ;  when  they  were  first  of  all  scourged 
over  with  honey,  in  order  to  be  tormented  I  severely,  and  then  broiled  to  death  upon 
to  death  by  wasps.     As  soon  as  he  was  ?  gridirons. 

hung  up,  they  asked  him  if  he  would  rebuild?  The  emperor,  Julian  the  apostate,  died 
their  temple  ?  To  which  he  answered,  that  \  of  a  wound  which  he  received  in  his  Per- 
he  would  neither  rebuild  it  nor  advance  a  j  sian  expedition,  A.  D.  363,  and  even  while 
single  doit  toward  its  being  rebuilt ;  upon  s  expiring  uttered  the  most  horrid  blasphe- 
which  they  left  him,  and  he  fell  a  martyr  j  mies.  He  was  succeeded  by  Jovian,  who 
to  the  dreadful  stings  of  those  troublesome  s  restored  peace  to  the  church, 
insects.  j      After  the  decease  of  Jovian,  Valentinian 

Maxentius  and  Juventius,  two  Chris-  j  succeeded  to  the  empire,  and   associated 


74 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


■ 


to  himself  Valens,  who  had  the  command i  the  officer,  "of  the  emperor's  order,  to  put  to 
of  the  east.  >  death  all  who  are  found  there  ?" — "  I  have,"  \ 

Valens  was  a  great  favorer  of  Arianism,  >  said  she,  "  and  for  that  cause  I  make  the 
and  so  incensed  against  the  Christians,  that  £  more  haste." — "  And  whither,"  said  the  offi- 
he  ordered,  on  a  certain  day,  all  of  them  in  I  cer,  "  do  you  lead  that  child  V — "  I  take  him  I 
Edessa  to  be  slain,  while  they  were  at  their  I  with  me,"  replied  she,  "  that  he  also  may  be  \ 
devotions  in  their  churches.     The  officers,    reckoned  in  the  number  of  the  martyrs." 
however,  being  more  compassionate  than  '  Upon  this  the  humane  officer  returned  to  the  \ 
the  emperor,  privately  gave  notice  to  the  '?  emperor,  and  told  him,  that  all  the  Christians  < 
Christians,  not  to  assemble  on  the  day  ap-  ^  were  prepared  to  die  in  defence  of  their  \ 
pointed,  so  that  they  might  escape  death,  )  faith,  and  represented  to  him  how  rash  it  j 
and  themselves  be  excused  for  non-perform-  /  would  be  to  murder  so  great  a  multitude,  \ 
ance  of  duty.  \  and  entreated  the  emperor  to  drop  the  de- 

The  Christians  thanked  the  officers  for  \  sign,  at  least  for  the  present,  which  he  at  j 
their  advice,  but  disregarded  both  that,  and  ')  length  complied  with. 

the  emperor's  menaces,  sooner  than  they  >      Menedemus,   Urbanus,   and   Theodo-  '( 
would  neglect  their  duty.     They  accord- )  rus,  with  several  other  orthodox  clergymen, 
ingly  repaired  to  church,  and    the   troops  \  to  the  number  of  fourscore,  at  Constanti-  \ 
being  compelled,  by  the  positiveness  of  the  \  nople,  petitioned  the  emperor,  in  a   most 
command,  were  put  in  motion  to  destroy  \  humble  manner,  to  relieve  them  from  the  ; 
them.     As  they  marched  along,  a  woman,  (  oppressions,  persecutions,  and  cruelties  of  \ 
with  a  child  in  her  arms,  broke  through  the  '  the  Arians.     But  the  tyrant,  instead  of  re-  < 
ranks,  when  the  officer  ordered  her  to  be  ^dressing  their  grievances,  ordered  them  to  j 
brought  before  him,  and  asked  her  whither  \  be  all  embarked  in  a  ship,  and  the  ship  set  < 
she  was  going.       She  replied,  to  church,  <  fire  to  ;   when  this   infernal  and  inhuman 
whither  others  were  making  all  the  haste  j  order  being  executed,  they  all  perished  in  j 
they  could.     "  Have  you  not  heard,"  says  '  the  flames.  < 


THE  PERSECUTIONS  OF  THE  CHRISTIANS  BY  THE  GOTHS,  ETC. 

ANY  of  the  Scythi-  ?  feated  by  the  Romans,  wreaked  his  ven- 
an  Goths  having  >geance  on  his  Christian  subjects, 
embraced    Chris-  \      Sabas,  a  worthy  Christian,  upon  this  oc-  < 
tianity   about   the  I  casion,  was  one  who  felt  the  enraged  king's  \ 
time  of   Constan-  J|  misplaced  resentment.     Sabas  was  humble 
tine  the  Great,  the  ?  and  humane,  mild  and  modest,  yet  fervent 
light  of  the  gospel  spread  itself  consider-  '< in  worship,  and  zealous  for  the  advance-  j 
ably  in  Scythia,  though  the  two  kings  who    ment  of  the  church.     Remarkable  for  his  j 
ruled  that  country,  and  the  majority  of  the    contempt  of  riches,  and  singular  in  shun- 
people,  continued  pagans.     Fritegern,  king    ning  every  sensual  enjoyment,  the  sanctity  \ 
of  the  West  Goths,  was  an  ally  to  the  Ro-  |of  his  life,  and  purity  of  his  manners  were  I 
mans  ;   but  Athanarick,  king  of  the  East  j  such,  as  gave  the  greatest  force  to  his  doc-  j 
\  Goths,  was  at  war  with  them.     The  Chris- Urines.    He  convinced  the  rational,  and  con-  j 
:   tians,  in  the  dominions  of  the  former,  lived  I  founded  the  obdurate  :  hence  he  became,  at  \ 
{  unmolested  ;  but  the  latter,  having  been  de-  {once,  famous  for  his  piety  and  doctrines.      ( 


Athanarick,  in  the  year  370,  gave  orders, 
that  all  persons  in  his  dominions  should 
sacrifice  to  the  pagan  deities,  and  eat  the 
meat  which  had  been  offered  to  the  idols, 
or  be  put  to  death  for  disobedience.  Some 
humane  pagans,  who  had  Christian  rela- 
tions, endeavored  to  save  them  by  offering 
them  meat  which  had  not  received  the 
idolatrous  consecration,  while  the  magis- 
trates were  to  be  imposed  on,  and  made  to 
believe  that  all  had  been  done  according  to 
their  direction.  But  Sabas  too  well  knew 
St.  Paul's  principles,  to  imagine  that  the 
sin  lay  in  eating :  he  knew  that  scandali- 
zing the  weak,  and  giving  the  enemies  of 
the  faith  an  advantage  over  them,  was  all 
that  made  that  action  criminal  in  Christians, 
neither  of  which  consequences  would  have 
been  avoided  by  this  disguise.  He  not 
only  refused  to  comply  with  what  was  pro- 
posed to  him,  but  publicly  declared,  that 
those  who  sheltered  themselves  under  that 
artifice,  were  not  worthy  to  be  called  Chris- 
tians. 

Sabas  being  soon  after  apprehended  on 
account  of  his  faith,  was  carried  before  a 
magistrate,  who  inquired  into  his  fortune 
and  circumstances.  Finding  that  what  he 
had  upon  his  back  was  the  principal  part 
of  what  he  possessed,  he  was  dismissed,  as 
a  person  of  little  or  no  consequence. 

Sabas  went  to  spend  the  ensuing  easter 
with  Sansala,  a  Christian  priest  of  great 
piety :  they  lived  in  great  tranquillity  for 
three  days,  but  on  the  third  night  they  were 
both  seized  by  a  party  of  soldiers.  The 
priest  was  allowed  to  dress  himself,  and  to 
ride,  but  Sabas  was  obliged  to  leave  his 
clothes  behind  him,' and  to  walk;  and  dur- 
ing the  journey,  they  drove  him  through 
thorns  and  briers,  beating  him  with  great 
violence  almost  continually.  This  cruelty 
he  bore  without  a  single  murmur,  and  in 
the  evening  they  extended  him  between 
two  beams,  fastening  his  legs  to  the  one, 
and  his  arms  to  the  other ;  and  in  that  pos- 
ture left  him  for  the  night,  while  they  re- 
tired to  repose.  The  woman  of  the  house, 
however,  hearing  how  ill  he  had  been  used, 


went  and  released  him  ;  but  though  he  was 
now  at  liberty,  and  his  persecutors  asleep, 
he  did  not  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity 
to  make  his  escape. 

The  next  morning  the  persecutors  began 
to  practise  on  these  two  worthy  Christians, 
and  tampered  with  them  to  renounce  their 
religion,  and  eat  the  meat  consecrated*  to 
the  idols.  This,  however,  they  jointly  re- 
fused, and  positively  declared,  that  they 
were  ready  to  meet  the  most  cruel  death, 
rather  than  comply  with  such  detestable 
idolatry.  Sansala  was  at  length  dischar- 
ged, and  Sabas  ordered  to  be  drowned ; 
which  sentence  was  put  into  execution 
April  12,  A.  D.  372. 

Nicetas  was  of  Gothic  extraction,  born 
near  the  banks  of  the  Danube,  and  though 
he  had  been  long  a  Christian,  he  never  met 
with  any  molestation  on  that  account,  till 
the  abovementioned  persecution  began  by 
Athanarick.  That  monarch  ordered  an 
idol  to  be  drawn  about  on  a  chariot,  through 
all  the  places  where  the  Christians  lived : 
the  chariot  stopped  at  the  door  of  everyone 
who  professed  the  gospel,  and  the  Chris- 
tian inhabitants  were  ordered  to  pay  it 
adoration.  Upon  a  refusal,  the  house  was 
immediately  set  on  fire,  and  all  within  were 
burnt.  This  was  the  case  with  Nicetas, 
who,  on  account  of  his  religion,  refusing  to 
pay  the  respect  demanded  to  the  idol,  had 
his  house  burnt,  and  himself  consumed  in 
it,  September  15,  A.  D.  372. 

Eusebius,  bishop  of  Samosata,  makes  a 
most  distinguished  figure  in  ecclesiastical 
history,  and  was  one  of  the  most  eminent 
champions  of  Christ  against  the  Arian 
heresy.  The  Arians  having  advanced  Mi- 
letus to  the  see  of  Antioch,  thinking  him  of 
their  party,  the  instrument  of  his  advance- 
ment was  placed  in  the  care  of  Eusebius. 
When  Miletus  preached  his  first  sermon, 
the  Arians,  to  their  great  surprise,  found 
they  had  been  greatly  mistaken  in  him,  for 
his  doctrines  were  pure  and  orthodox. 

Enraged  at  thqir  disappointment,  they 
persuaded  the  emperor  to  displace  him,  and 
likewise  to  get  the  instrument  out  of  the 


. ^ 


76 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


hands  of  Eusebiws.     Miletus  was  accord-  j 
ingly    deposed,    and   the   emperor    sent  to  / 
Eusebius  to  deliver  the  instrument.     Euse-  j 
bius's  answer  was,  that  he  could  not  give  t 
up  a  trust  reposed  in  him  by  so  great  a  \ 
number,  without  the  express  consent  of  all  j 
concerned  in  it.     The  emperor,  incensed? 
at  this  reply,  wrote  to  him  on  that  subject, ' 
and  assured  him  he  had  commissioned  the 
bearer  of  his  letter  to  cut  off  his  right  hand, 
if  he  refused  to  surrender  the  instrument  in  j 
question  ;   which  threat  was  artfully  added 
only  to  awe  him  into  a  compliance.     Eu- '( 
sebius,  however,  knew  the  party  was  capa- 
ble  of  any  cruelty  to  promote  their  cause  ;  j 
but,  without  the  least  emotion,  offered  his  t 
hands,  and  declared  he  would  lose  them  < 
both  rather  than   part   with   so  flagrant  a  / 
proof  of  Arian   injustice.      The   emperor  j 
could  not  but  be  surprised  at  his  resolu-  j 
tion,  and  professed  a  high  esteem  for  him 
ever  after :    so   true   it   is  that  virtue   can  < 
sometimes  force  even  its  declared  enemies  < 
to  love  and  praise  it. 

The  Arians  from  this  time  looked  upon  j 
Eusebius  as  a  most  dangerous  enemy.  At 
the  time  Jovian  restored  peace  to  the 
church,  Miletus  convened  a  council  at  An- 
tioch,  which  consisted  of  Eusebius,  and 
twenty-five  other  prelates,  who  unanimous- 
ly confirmed  the  doctrines  of  the  council  of  \ 
Nice. 

When  the  see  of  Cesarea  became  vacant,  \ 
Eusebius  was  greatly  instrumental  in  pro-  \ 
moting    Basil    to    it,   on   which   occasion,  \ 
Gregory  the  younger  calls  him,  "  The  pil-  \ 
lar  of  truth,  the  light  of  the  world,  the  for-  \ 
tress  of  the  church,  the  rule  of  faith,  the  s 
support  of  the  faithful,  and  an  instrument  s 
in  the  hands  of  God  for  bestowing  favors  s 
on  his  people."     When  the  Arians  were 
the  most  vigilant  to  propagate  their  heresy, 
Eusebius   was    exceedingly   assiduous    in 
taking  measures  to  prevent  their  success  ; 
and  his  zeal  was  always  so  governed  by 
the  rules  of  prudence,  that  his  attempts  sel- 
dom failed  of  success.     It  was  not  enough 
for  our  excellent  prelate  to  screen  his  own 
flock  from  the  insults  of  the  common  ene- 


mv,  and  maintain  the  faith  in  its  purity 
against  all  the  endeavors  of  such  as  would 
corrupt  the  people  ;  but  knowing  that  sev- 
eral churches  were,  by  the  iniquity  of  the 
times,  deprived  of  their  pastors,  he  disguis- 
ed himself;  and  thus  made  the  tour  of 
Syria,  Phenicia,  and  Palestine  ;  fortified  the 
pure  against  the  solicitations  of  the  here- 
tics ;  ordained  several  priests  and  inferior 
ministers,  wherever  they  were  wanting; 
and,  when  he  found  any  orthodox  prelates 
in  his  travels,  assisted  them  in  consecrating 
bishops  for  the  use  of  the  widowed  churches. 
It  was  impossible  to  conceal  the  hand  that 
every  day  gave  some  fresh  stroke  to  the 
Arian  party,  and  sunk  their  interest  wher- 
ever it  was  employed  ;  so  that  the  emperor, 
at  their  instigation,  granted  an  order  for 
banishing  him  into  Thrace.  He  was  at 
Samosata  when  the  messenger  came  with 
this  commission  ;  it  was  late  in  the  even- 
ing, and  Eusebius,  who  was  very  well-be- 
loved by  his  people,  begged  he  would  make 
no  noise,  but  conceal  his  business  ;  "  for," 
says  he,  "  if  it  takes  air,  the  people  will 
fall  on  you,  throw  you  into  the  river,  and 
then  I  shall  be  charged  with  your  death." 
Eusebius  was  calm  enough  to  go  through 
his  usual  devotions,  and  when  the  nighl 
was  far  advanced  he  left  his  house  on  foot, 
attended  only  by  one  trusty  servant,  who 
carried  a  pillow  and  one  book  after  him. 
Thus  accommodated  he  took  a  boat,  and 
went  to  Zeugma,  about  seventy  miles  down 
the  river. 

The  people,  however,  next  day,  missing 
Eusebius,  and  hearing  which  way  he  was 
gone,  followed  in  a  great  number  of  boats, 
and  overtaking  would  have  rescued  him,  at 
the  same  time  entreating  him  with  tears  in 
their  eyes  not  to  abandon  them. 

Eusebius  was  greatly  touched  with  their 
affection,  but  said  he  must  go  according  to 
the  emperor's  order,  putting  them  in  mind 
of  the  authority  of  St.  Paul,  for  paying  a 
due  reverence,  and  proper  submission  to 
the  civil  power.  Finding  they  could  not 
prevail,  they  accommodated  him  with  every- 
thing that  could  comfort  him  in  his  journey, 


m 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


77 


and  then  left  him  to  pursue  his  way  to  the 
place  of  destination. 

At  this  time  Thrace  was  a  scene  of  con- 
fusion, by  means  of  the  war  carried  on  be- 
tween the  Goths  and  the  emperor's  forces  ; 
and  in  these  contests,  the  life  of  Eusebius 
was  frequently  in  danger.  The  emperor, 
in  order  to  terminate  the  war  with  the 
greater  expedition,  resolved  to  march 
against  the  Goths  in  person  ;  but  first  to 
engage  the  prayers  of  the  Christians,  he 
gave  peace  to  the  church  of  Christ,  and  al- 
lowed the  orthodox  prelates  to  return  to 
their  churches.  Thus  was  Eusebius  re- 
stored to  his  see,  which,  however,  he  did 
not  long  enjoy,  for  an  Arian  woman  threw 
a  tile  at  him  from  the  top  of  a  house,  which 
fractured  his  skull,  and  terminated  his  life 
in  the  year  380. 

Marcellus,  bishop  of  Apamea,  a  prelate 
of  great  merit,  was  very  active  in  attempt- 
ing to  suppress  idolatry  in  his  diocese,  on 
which  account  his  life  was  in  continual 
danger,  till  Cynegius,  the  praefect,  arrived 
with  a  considerable  body  of  troops,  which 
kept  the  pagans  in  awe.  This  officer's  de- 
sign was  totally  to  abolish  idolatry,  to  effect 
which  he  determined  to  destroy  the  temple 
of  Jupiter;  he  however,  found  this  a  more 
difficult  attempt  than  he  had  imagined,  for 
the  building  was  so  strong,  the  stories  so 
unwieldy,  the  cement  so  durable,  and  the 


iron  cramps  so  massy,  that  he  despaired  of 
being  able  to  accomplish  the  work  ;  when 
a  poor  laboring  Christian,  recommended  by 
Marcellus,  undertook  to  go  through  with 
what  the  praefect  had  given  up,  and  the 
business  was  executed  in  the  following 
manner : — ■ 

This  person  examined  the  situation  of 
the  edifice,  and  finding  it  surrounded  by  a 
gallery,  supported  by  stately  pillars,  ten 
yards  in  circumference,  he  judged  it  would 
be  more  to  his  purpose  to  weaken  the  foun- 
dation than  pretend  to  attack  the  body  of  the 
building  directly  ;  with  this  view  he  dug  at 
the  bottom  of  the  said  pillars,  and  shored 
them  with  timber  beams.  When  he  had 
thus  undermined  three  of  the  most  consid- 
erable pillars,  he  set  fire  to  the  wood,  which 
burning  in  sunder,  the  pillars  fell,  and  drew 
twelve  more  with  them,  and  brought  down 
one  whole  side  of  the  building  ;  upon  which 
the  people  flocked  together  from  all  parts 
of  the  town,  and  praised  God  who  had,  in 
this  signal  manner,  triumphed  over  his 
enemies. 

The  bishop  and  prsefect  continued  de- 
stroying a  great  number  of  idol  temples, 
when  being  at  a  town  called  Aulo  upon  this 
business,  while  the  troops  were  busy  in  de- 
molishing the  buildings,  some  pagans  pri- 
vately seized  upon  the  bishop,  and  burnt 
him,  A.  D.  393. 


THE  PERSECUTIONS  UNDER  THE  ARIAN  VANDALS. 


pp^|ggj?HE  Vandals  passing  from 
«^[  Spain  to  Africa  in  the 
'  fifth  century,  under  their 
leader  Genseric,  commit- 
ted the  most  unheard-of; 
cruelties.  They  persecu- 
ted the  Christians  wherever  they  came,  and 
even  laid  waste  the  country  as  they  passed, 
that  the  Christians  left  behind,  who  had 
escaped  them,  might  not  be  able  to  subsist. 


They  plundered  the  churches,  and  mur- 
dered the  bishops  and  ministers  by  a  variety 
of  tortures.  In  particular,  they  poured 
stinking  oil  and  vinegar  down  the  throats 
of  some  till  they  expired  ;  suffocated  others 
by  filling  their  mouths  with  mud,  and  mar- 
tyred many  by  stretching  their  limbs  with 
cords  till  the  veins  burst,  and  sinews  crack- 
ed. They  also  wreaked  their  vengeance 
on  several  of  the  clergy  and  nobility,  whom 


78 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


they  loaded  with  heavy  burdens,  and  ob- 
liged them  to  carry  their  baggage  ;  and  if 
they  did  not  travel  fast  enough,  they  prick- 
ed them  on  with  sharp  "goads,  insomuch 
that  several  died  under  their  burdens. 
Reverend  gray  hairs  found  no  instances  of 
mercy,  and  guiltless  infants  felt  the  rage  of 
their  barbarity.  Stalely  buildings  were 
burned  or  levelled  with  the  earth ;  and  the 
chief  churches  in  Carthage  employed  to 
their  own  heretical  worship,  or  put  to  pro- 
fane uses  ;  and  where  any  castles  held  out 
against  them,  they  brought  great  numbers 
of  Christians,  and  slew  them,  leaving  their 
dead  bodies  lying  under  the  walls,  that  the 
stench  thereof  might  force  the  besieged  to 
surrender. 

Having  seized  and  plundered  the  city  of 
Carthage,  they  put  the  bishop,  and  all  the 
clergy,  into  a  leaky  ship,  and  committed  it 
to  the  mercy  of  the  waves,  thinking  that 
they  must  all  perish  of  course  ;  but  provi- 
dentially the  vessel  arrived  safe  at  Naples. 
Innumerable  orthodox  Christians  were 
beaten,  scourged,  and  banished  to  Capsur, 
where  it  pleased  God  to  make  them  the 
means  of  converting  many  of  the  Moors  to 
Christianity  ;  but  this  coming  to  the  ears 
of  Genseric,  he  sent  orders,  that  they  and 
their  new  converts  should  be  tied  by  the 
feet  to  chariots,  and  dragged  about  till  they 
were  dashed  to  pieces. 

Pampinian,  the  bishop  of  Mansuetus, 
was  tortured  to  death  with  plates  of  hot 
iron  ;  the  bishop  of  Urice  was  burnt ;  the 
bishop  of  Habensa  was  banished,  for  re- 
fusing to  deliver  up  the  sacred  books  which 
were  in  his  possession ;  and  a  whole  con- 
gregation, who  were  assembled  in  a  church 
at  their  devotions,  together  with  the  clergy- 
man who  was  preaching  to  them,  were 
murdered  by  these  barbarians  breaking  in 
upon  them,  and  exercising  the  most  indis- 
criminate cruelties. 

The  Vandalian  tyrant  Genseric,  having 
j  made  an  expedition  into  Italy,  and  plunder- 
<  ed  the  city  of  Rome,  returned  to  Africa, 
•  flushed  with  the  success  of  his  arms.  The 
\  Arians  took  this  occasion  to  persuade  him 
S 


$to  persecute  the  orthodox  Christians,  as 
they  assured  him  that  they  were  friends  to 
the  people  of  Rome. 

Armogastus  was  one  who  felt  the  rage 
of  this  persecution ;    Victor,   the    learned 
bishop  of   Vita,  who   was   personally  ac- 
quainted with  Armogastus,  and  who  like- 
I  wise  wrote  the  history  of  this  persecution, 
^informs  us,  that  "  his  legs  were  lied,  and 
■  his    forehead    bound    with    cords    several 
j  times  ;  which,  though  applied  with  no  gen- 
\  tie  hand,  made  not  the  least  impression  on 
his  flesh,  nor  left  any  mark  on  his  skin. 
\  After  this,  he  was  hung  up  by  one  foot ; 
<  but  in  that  posture  seemed  as  much  at  his 
s  ease  as  if  reposed  on  a  soft  bed.      The- 
jodoric,  one  of  the  king's  sons,  finding  all 
I  attempts  on  his  life  had  hitherto  proved  un- 
\  successful,  ordered  his  head  to  be  struck 
>off.     But  Jocundus,  an  Arian   priest,  dis- 
suaded him  from  that  resolution,  by  telling 
jhim  it  would  be  much  better  to  destroy  him 
S  by  slow  and  imperceptible  means,  and  wear 
shim  out   by   degrees;    whereas   a  violent 
death  would  procure  him  the  reputation  of 
a  martyr  among  those  of  his  own  opinion, 
which  could  be  of  no  service  to  the  oppo- 
site cause.     The  prince  sent  him  to  the 
mines,  and  sometime  after  removed  him  to 
a  place  near  Carthage,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed in  looking  after  cattle.     "While  Ar- 
mogastus was  thus  engaged,  he  grew  ex- 
ceeding ill,  and  imagining  that  the  end  of 
his  labors  was  near,  he  communicated  his 
thoughts  to  Felix,  a  virtuous  Christian,  em- 
ployed in  that  prince's  service.     From  him 
he  received  some  consolation  ;  but  his  dis- 
order increasing  daily  soon  deprived  him 
of  life,  and  he  was  buried  by  Felix  accord- 
ing to  his  own  direction." 

Archinimus  was  a  devout  Christian, 
upon  whom  all  manner  of  artifices  were 
employed,  in  vain,  to  make  him  renounce 
his  faith.  At  length  Genseric  himself  un- 
dertook to  persuade  him,  but  finding  his 
endeavors  ineffectual,  he  passed  sentence 
upon  him  to  be  beheaded.  He,  however, 
privately  ordered  the  executioner  to  really 
perform  his  office,  if  the  prisoner  seemed 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


79 


intimidated  and  afraid  ;  "  for  then,"  said  he, 
"  the  crown  of  martyrdom  will  be  lost  to 
him  ;  but  if  he  seems  courageous,  and  wil- 
ling to  die,"  continued  the  king,  "  strike  not 
the  stroke  ;  for  I  do  not  intend  that  he  shall 
have  the  honor  of  being  deemed  a  martyr." 
The  executioner,  when  they  came  to  the 
place  appointed,  finding  Archinimus  re- 
solved, and  happy  in  the  thought  of  dying 
for  the  sake  of  Christ,  brought  him  back 
unhurt.  He  was  soon  after  this  banished, 
and  never  heard  of  more,  though  it  is  con- 
jectured that  he  was  murdered  privately  by 
the  king's  order. 

Dionysia,  a  lady  of  fortune,  and  a  widow, 
being  apprehended  as  an  orthodox  Chris- 
tian, was  stripped  naked,  exposed  in  a 
most  indecent  manner,  and  severely  scourg- 
ed. Her  son,  a  young  lad,  being  seized  at 
the  same  time,  seemed  afraid  of  the  torture, 
and  looked  pitifully  at  his  mother,  who  or- 
dered him  not  to  fear  any  torments  that 
could  be  inflicted  on  him,  but  to  be  con- 
stant to  the  faith  in  which  she  had  brought 
him  up.  When  he  was  upon  the  rack,  she 
again  comforted  him  in  these  words  : — 

"  Remember,  O  my  child,  that  we  were 
baptized  in  the  name  of  the  ever-sacred 
Trinity,  let  us  not  lose  the  benefit  thereof, 
lest  it  should  hereafter  be  said,  cast  them 
into  outer  darkness,  where  there  is  weep- 
ing and  gnashing  of  teeth ;  for  that  pain 
which  never  endethis,  indeed,  to  be  dread- 
ed, and  that  life  which  endureth  to  eternity 
to  be  desired."  Whereupon  the  youth  pa- 
tiently persevered,  and  from  the  force  of  his 
torments  resigned  his  soul  to  his  God. 

The  pious  mother  saw  the  death  of  her 
son  with  pleasure,  and  soon  after  received 
the  crown  of  martyrdom  herself. 

The  Arian  bishop  of  Carthage,  named 
Cyrilla,  was  a  most  furious  heretic,  and  a 
very  great  enemy  to  those  Christians  who 
professed  the  faith  in  its  purity.  Having 
gained  the  ear  of  the  king,  he  persuaded 
him  that  he  could  never  expect  prosperity 
in  his  undertakings,  or  hope  to  enjoy  his 
kingdom  in  peace,  while  he  suffered  any  of 
the  orthodox  Christians  to  live. 


The  weak  monarch,  believing  all  that 
Cyrilla  told  him,  sent  for  several  of  the 
most  eminent  Christians,  who  were  partic- 
ularly obnoxious  to  that  prelate.  He,  at 
first,  attempted  to  draw  them  from  their 
faith  by  flattery,  and  to  bribe  them  from  the 
hopes  of  future  salvation,  by  the  promise  of 
immediate  worldly  rewards.  Being  firm 
and  constant  in  their  faith,  they  were  proof 
against  the  former,  and  despised  the  latter; 
declaring  resolutely  against  Arianism,  and 
saying  :  "  We  acknowledge  but  one  Lord, 
one  faith,  and  one  baptism  ;  you  may  there- 
fore do  whatever  you  please  with  our  bodies, 
for  it  is  better  that  we  should  suffer  a  few 
temporary  pains,  than  to  endure  everlasting 
torments." 

The  king,  being  greatly  exasperated  at 
this  freedom,  sent  them  to  a  filthy  dark 
dungeon,  and  ordered  them  to  be  put  into 
irons.  The  keeper,  however,  not  being  of 
the  savage  disposition  too  common  to  such 
as  are  intrusted  with  the  care  of  jails,  suf- 
fered their  friends  to  have  access  to  them  ; 
by  which  they  received  great  consolation, 
and  became  daily  more  and  more  confirm- 
ed in  their  resolution  of  dying  for  the  sake 
of  Christ. 

The  king  hearing  of  the  indulgence  given 
them  by  their  keepers  was  exceedingly 
angry,  and  sent  orders  that  they  should  be 
more  closely  confined,  and  loaded  with  still 
heavier  fetters.  He  then  began  to  ruminate 
in  his  mind  by  what  means  he  should  put 
them  to  death,  and  after  revolving  over  and 
over  all  the  modes  of  cruelty  that  he  could 
recollect,  he  at  length  determined  to  imitate 
the  monstrous'  barbarity  of  the  emperor 
Valens,  who,  as  we  have  already  related, 
caused  fourscore  clergymen  to  be  burnt  to- 
gether in  a  ship.  Fixing  upon  this  infernal 
precedent,  he  ordered  these  Christians  to 
be  put  on  board  a  ship  filled  with  combus- 
tible materials,  and  the  vessel  being  set 
fire  to,  they  received  the  crown  of  martyr- 
dom. The  names  of  seven  of  the  principal 
of  these  Christians  were,  Rusticus,  Se- 

VERUS,  LlBERATUS,  BoNIFACE,  SEPTIMUS, 

Servus,  and  Rogatus. 


H 


80 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


~1B 


PERSECUTIONS  FROM  THE  SIXTH  TO  THE   TENTH  CENTURIES. 


ROTERIUS    was    made    a  >  and  the  prudence  of  the  governor  of  Alex- 
priest  by  Cyril,  bishop  of' andria,  whose  name  was  Florus,  soon  re-  \ 
Alexandria,  who  was  well  I  stored  peace  to  the  city, 
acquainted  with  his  virtues,  I      The  discontented  party,  however,  still  be- 
before  he  appointed  him  to  jheld  Proterius  with  an  eye  of  resentment ; 
preach.     On  the   death  of^so  that  he  was  obliged  to  have  a  guard  out  J 
Cyril,  the  see  of  Alexandria  was  filled  by  <  of  respect  to  his  personal   safety,  and  at  I 
\  Dioscorus,  an  inveterate  enemy  both  to  the  \  length,  though  naturally  of  a  sweet  and  mild 
;  memory    and    family   of  his    predecessor.  <,  temper,  was  compelled  to  excommunicate   < 
\  Dioscorus,  however,  knowing  the  reputa-|some  of  them,  and  obtain  their  banishment 
j  tion  of  Proterius,  did  the  utmost  in  his    from  Alexandria.     Ecclesiastical   history, 
J  power  to  gain  his  confidence  and  interest ;  \  however,  informs  us,  that,  "  When  the  em-  \ 
\  as  he  thought  he  might  be  of  singular  ser-  I  peror    Marcian's    death,    which   happened 
vice  to  him  in  carrying  on  his  designs.        s  two  years  after,  gave  a  new  turn  to  affairs,  | 
Proterius,  however,  was  not  to  be  cor-  \  the  exiles  returned  to  Alexandria,  engaged   • 
rupted,  the  welfare  of  the  church  sat  next  \  in  their  usual  cabals  against  Proterius,  and  i 
his  heart,  and  no  prospect  of  worldly  pre-  5  seemed  resolved  to  be  revenged  on  him  for  \ 
ferment  could  bribe  him  to  forego  his  duty.  \  what  they  had  suffered  in  the  last  reign.  ; 
Dioscorus  being  condemned  by  the  coun- 1  Timothy,  a  priest,  who  was  at  the  head  of  , 
i  cil  of  Chalcedon,  for  having  embraced  the  \  all  the  designs  that  h  aftbeen  formed  against  , 
|  errors  of  Eutyches,  was  deposed,  and  Pro-  I  Proterius,  employed  every  art  to  ruin  his  , 
\  terius  chosen  to  fill  the  vacant  see,  and  ap-  >  credit,  drawing  the  people  from  his  com-  \ 
\  proved  of  by  the  emperor.     This  occasion-  \  munion,  and  raising  himself  to  that  see.     At  5 
\  ed  a  dangerous  insurrection,  for  the  city  of/  last,  taking  advantage  of  the  abuse  of  Di-  \ 
\  Alexandria  was  divided  into  two  factions  ;  5  onysius,  who  commanded  the  forces  of  that 
the  one  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  old,  >  province,  and  was  then  in  Upper  Egypt,  he  \ 
and  the  other  of  the  new  prelate.     A  great j  seized  on  the  great  church,  and  was  unca-  \ 
deal  of  mischief  was  done  on  both  sides,  \  nonically  and  sacrilegiously  consecrated  by  \ 
and  Proterius  was  in  the  most  imminent)  two  bishops  of  his  faction,  that  had  been  de-  , 
personal  danger,  from  a  set  of  schismatics,  >  posed  for  heresy.     The  usurper  went  on  in  ! 
who  would  neither  obey  the  decisions  of  a  \  the  exercise  of  all  the  episcopal  functions,  \ 
council  nor  the  emperor's  decree.  I  and  used  the  whole  rigor  of  his  pretended  I 

As  these  disorders  became  serious,  the  >  authority  to  oppress  the  orthodox,  till  the   [ 
governor  of  Thebais  marched  at  the  head    commander's  return,  who,  upon  hearing  the  { 
of  a  body  of  troops,  in  order  to  quell  the  \  disorders  that  had  been  committed,  and  that  < 
sedition.     The  people,  however,  had  work- )  Timothy  was  the   chief   author  of  them, 
ed    up    their   imaginations     to    a    kind    of /drove  that  incendiary  out  of  the  town." 
phrensy  ;  when  they  heard  of  the  approach  ?      This  affair  so  enraged  the  Eutychians,  < 
of  the   governor,  they  armed   themselves,  j  that  they  determined  to  wreak  their  ven-  < 
<  marched  out  of  Alexandria,  gave  him  battle,  '<  geance  on  Proterius,  who  fled  to  the  church  ; 
and  defeated  him.     The  intelligence  of  this  j  for  sanctuary  ;  but  on  Good  Friday,  A.  D.  \ 
affair  so  exasperated  the  emperor,  that  he  {  457,  a  large  body  of  them  rushed  into  the  ; 
'  sent   a   detachment  of  two   thousand  men  \  church,  and  barbarously  murdered  the  prel-  \ 
>  against  them  ;   the   appearance  of  whom,  \  ate  ;    after  which  they  dragged  the   body  \ 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


81 


through  the  streets,  insulted,  cut  it  to  pieces 

burnt  it,  and  scattered  the  ashes  in  the  air. 

Julia,  a  Carthaginian  lady,  was  taken 

prisoner   when   the  Vandals    sacked    that 


that  while  she  was  permitted  to  enjoy  her 
religion,  she  was  as  free  as  she  desired 
to  be. 

Felix,  not  being  able  to  prevail,  ordered 


|  city.     After  being  sold   and  re-sold  as  a  >  her  to  be  severely  beaten,  which  she  bore 

;  slave,  she  became  the  property  of  a  Syrian  5  with  the   utmost   patience.     Finding   her  ) 

;  pagan,  named  Eusebius.     Her  master  could  I  still  resolute,  he  commanded,  that  the  hair 

!  not  but  admire  a  religion  which  inspired    of  her  head  should  be  pulled  out  by  the  \ 

such  resignation   and  patience  in  vassal-  j  roots.      This  barbarity  having  no  greater  \ 

lage,  and  the  most  painful  employments  :  >  effect  than  the  former,  he  sentenced  her  to  I 

thus  it  is  plain,  that  the  humility  and  purity  '■  be  hanged,  which  sentence  was  immediate-  i> 

prescribed  by  Christianity  will  attract  even  '  ly  put  into  execution. 

the  admiration  of  heathens.  >      Julia  was  scarce  dead  when  Eusebius  £ 

The  master  of  Julia  frequently  took  her  j recovered  from  his  intoxication.     As  soon  I 
with  him  upon  his  voyages  :  in  one  of  these  ?  as  he  understood  what  had  passed,  he  was 
they  touched  upon  the  island  of  Corsica,  \  greatly  afflicted,  and  in  the  first  transports  5 
where   Eusebius  joined   in    an   idolatrous  j ;  of  his  resentment  had  thoughts  of  complain-  ,; 
festival  ;  but  Julia  kept  at  a  distance.  I  ing  to  the  emperor,  who  being  a  Christian, 

The  heathens  complained  of  this  con-  \  would  have  punished  the  perfidity  of  the  \ 
duct  as  disrespectful  to  their  gods,  and  in-  \  governor.  But  reflecting  again,  that  Felix  \ 
formed  the  governor  Felix  of  it,  who  sent  \  had  only  acted  with  a  zeal  for  the  deities  ) 
for  Eusebius,  and  demanded  what  young  \  that  he  himself  adored,  he  determined  to  \ 
woman  it  was  that  had  refused  to  join  in  <  put  up  with  the  loss,  and  retire  from  a  | 
worship  to  the  gods.  <  place  which  was  become  so  disagreeable  ! 

Eusebius  replied,  that  the  young  woman  <  to  him. 
was  a  Christian,  and  that  all  his  authority  <      Hermenigildus,  was  a  Gothic  prince,  \ 
over  her  had  proved  too  weak  to  prevail  <  being  the  eldest  son  of  Leovigildus,  king  of  ; 
with  her  to  renounce  her  religion  ;  but  that  uhe  Goths,   in   Spain.     This  prince,   who  i 
as  she  was  a  very  diligent  and  faithful  ser-  I  was  originally  an  Arian,  became  a  convert 
vant,  he  could  not  think  of  parting  with  her.  \  to  the  orthodox  faith,  by  means  of  his  wife  '>. 
Felix  then  pressed  him  to  exert  himself  I  Ingonda.     When  the  king  heard  that  his  < 
on  this  occasion,  and  either  to  oblige  her^  son  had  changed  his  religious  sentiments,  '' 
to  assist  at  the  pagan  worship,  or  to  part  \  he  stripped  him  of  the  command  at  Seville,  \ 
with  her  ;  and  offered  to  give  him  his  own  \  where  he  was  governor,  and  threatened  to 
price,  or  four  of  his  best  female  slaves  in  \  put  him  to  death,  unless  he  renounced  the  \ 
exchange   for  her,  which  Eusebius  abso-  \  faith  he  had  newly  embraced, 
lutely  refused,  saying,  that  he  would  not  \      The  prince,  in  order  to  prevent  the  exe- 
part  from  her  for  any  price.  I  cution  of  his  father's  menaces,  began  to  put 

Felix  finding  the  master  inflexible,  de-  s  himself  into  a  posture  of  defence  ;  and  j 
termined  to  get  her  into  his  power  by  arti-  s  many  of  the  orthodox  persuasion  in  Spain  j 
fice.  To  effect  this,  he  invited  Eusebius  s  declared  for  him.  The  king,  exasperated  < 
to  an  entertainment,  and  having  intoxicated  s  at  this  act  of  rebellion,  began  to  punish  all  ; 
him,  he  sent  for  Julia  in  the  name  of  her  \  the  orthodox  Christians  who  could  be  seiz-  j 
master.  <  ed    by  his  troops  ;    and  thus    a   very  se-  ; 

The  innocent  slave  not   suspecting  the  s  vere  persecution  commenced  :  he  likewise  \ 
trap  laid  for  her,  came  immediately,  when  \  marched  against  his  son  at  the  head  of  a 
the  governor  told  her  that  he  would  pro-  s  very  powerful  army.     The  prince,  know- 
cure  her  liberty,  if  she  would  sacrifice  to  \  ing  that  he  was  unable  to  oppose  the  for- 
the  heathen  gods.     To  which  Julia  replied,  \  midable  force  that  his  father  was  bringing  | 


82 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


against  him,  implored  the  assistance  of  the 
Roman  troops,  that  were  left  to  garrison 
those  parts  of  Spain,  which  the  emperor 
still  possessed.  The  Roman  commander 
engaged  to  assist  Herminigildus,  but  being 
bribed  by  the  king  he  broke  his  promise. 
Leovigildus  then  made  it  his  business,  as 
much  as  possible,  to  detach  the  orthodox 
Christians  from  the  interest  of  his  son  ;  and 
in  this  he  had  great  success,  for  it  was  ef- 
fected in  581,  by  convening  the  Arian  prel- 
ates at  Toledo,  who  abolished  the  practice 
of  rebaptizing  those  that  came  over  to  their 
sect,  and  drew  up  a  captious  profession  of 
faith  which  deceived  many,  and  prevailed 
upon  them  to  quit  the  interest  of  Hermeni- 
gildus. 

The  prince,  thus  forsaken  by  numbers  of 
those  whom  he  most  confided  in,  was  ob- 
liged to  retreat  toward  Seville,  in  which 
city  he  soon  after  shut  himself  up,  and  sent 
to  Constantinople  for  assistance  from  the 
emperor.  The  death  of  that  monarch,  how- 
ever, prevented  him  from  receiving  any  re- 
lief; for  Maurice,  who  succeeded  him, 
found  his  own  hands  too  full  to  afford  any 
succor  to  Hermenigildus.  The  king,  who 
had  information  of  every  step  which  his 
son  took,  proceeded  to  Seville,  and  laid 
seige  to  it.  The  prince  defended  the  place 
with  great  bravery,  and  even  held  out  for 
the  space  of  twelve  months  ;  but  finding 
that  the  city  must  soon  be  taken,  he  private- 
ly made  his  escape,  and  fled  to  the  Roman 
troops  to  beg  protection.  Being  informed 
that  they  intended  to  give  him  up,  he  pre- 
cipitately retired  to  Corduba,  and  thence 
went  to  Asseto,  which  he  fortified. 

After  the  escape  of  the  prince  from  Se- 
ville the  city  surrendered,  and  the  king 
having  properly  garrisoned  it,  pursued  his 
son,  laid  siege  to  Asseto,  and  soon  obliged 
it  to  surrender.  The  unfortunate  prince 
being  driven  to  this  distress,  flew  to  a 
church  for  sanctuary.  The  king  having 
too  much  respect  for  the  sanctity  of  the 
place  to  force  him  from  it,  sent  an  officer, 
named  Reccaredus,  to  assure  him  of  his 
pardon,  upon  his  submitting  to  ask  it.    The 


i  prince,  believing  his  father  to  be  sincere,  | 
]  immediately  went  to  him,  and  threw  him-  } 
]  self,  most  submissively,  at  his  feet.  The 
!  king,  however,  instead  of  forgiving  him, 
^  loaded  him  with  chains,  and  carried  him  to 
Seville,  where  he  endeavored,  both  by  pro m- 
s  ises  and  menaces,  to  make  him  renounce 
>,  the  orthodox  faith. 

The  prince  remained  constant  to  the 
,  truth  ;  and  at  the  feast  of  Easter,  when  the 
king  sent  an  Arian  bishop  to  him  to  ad- 
minister the  eucharist,  Hermenigildus  ab- 
solutely refused  to  receive  it,  which  so  en- 
raged the  king,  that  before  he  gave  himself 
time  to  reflect,  he  ordered  some  of  his 
guards  to  go  and  cut  the  prince  to  pieces, 
which  they  punctually  performed  April  13, 
A.  D.  586.     (See  engraving.) 

Marti.v,  bishop  of  Rome,  was  born  at 
Todi,  in  Italy.  He  was  naturally  inclined 
to  virtue,  and  his  parents  bestowed  on  him 
an  admirable  education.  He  had  every 
liberal  endowment  that  the  sciences  could 
bestow,  and  all  the  worthiness  that  a  mortal 
could  derive  from  the  saving  grace  of  the 
gospel.  He  took  orders,  and  on  the  death 
of  Theodore,  bishop  of  Rome,  was  advan- 
ced to  that  important  see,  by  a  unanimous 
election,  in  which  all  parties  gave  him  the 
fullest  praises,  and  admitted,  that  he  well 
merited  a  trust  of  such  great  consequence. 
His  character  has  been  thus  drawn  by 
a  masterly  hand  : — 

"  His  compassion  for  the  poor  appeared  j 
in  large  contributions  for  their  relief,  and  I 
the  offices  of  hospitality,  which  he  perform-  \ 
ed  in  favor  of  strangers.  His  fasts  were  < 
rigorous  and  frequent,  and  prayer  employ-  ; 
ed  a  very  considerable  part  of  his  time,  j 
He  was  always  ready  to  receive  returning  '•> 
sinners  ;  took  no  small  pains  to  lead  such  \ 
through  the  paths  of  repentance,  as  testified  J 
their  sorrow  by  tears  ;  and  comforted  them,  j 
by  letting  them  see  what  reason  they  had 
to  confide  in  God's  infinite  goodness.  He  ' 
loved  his  clergy  with  a  brotherly  tender- 
ness, and  honored  the  episcopal  character 
wherever  it  was  found. 

The  first  trouble  he  received  in  his  epis- 


HERMENMGII.DUS,    PRINCE   OF   THE   GOTHS,    HEWN   TO    PIECES. — Page  83. 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


85 


copal  capacity,  was  from  a  set  of  heretics, 
called  Monothelites  ;  who  not  daring,  after 
the  express  decisions  of  the  council  of; 
Chalcedon,  to  maintain  the  Unity  of  nature 
in  Christ,  asserted,  artfully,  that  he  had  but 
one  will  and  operation  of  mind.  This  sect 
was  patronised  by  the  emperor  Heraclius  ; 
and  the  first  who  attempted  to  stop  the 
progress  of  these  errors,  was  Sophronius, 
bishop  of  Jerusalem. 

Martin,  who  perfectly  coincided  in  sen- 
timents with  the  bishop  of  Jerusalem,  call- 
ed a  council,  which  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  five  bishops,  and  they  unanimous- 
ly condemned  the  errors  in  question. 

Incensed  at  these  proceedings,  the  em- 
peror ordered  Olympius,  his  lieutenant  in 
Italy,  to  repair  to  Rome,  and  seize  the 
bishop,  provided  it  could  be  done  without 
causing  an  insurrection.  The  lieutenant 
performed  the  journey ;  but  on  his  arrival 
at  Rome,  he  found  the  people  too  unani- 
mous in  their  opinions,  and  the  prelate  too 
much  beloved,  to  attempt  anything  by  open 
violence.  Hence  he  had  recourse  to  treach- 
ery, and  suborned  a  ruffian  to  assassinate 
the  bishop  at  the  altar  ;  but  the  fellow,  after 
promising  to  execute  the  bloody  deed,  was 
seized  with  such  horrors  of  mind,  that  he 
had  not  the  power  to  perform  his  promise. 
Olympius,  finding  it  would  be  very  difficult 
to  perform  anything  against  Martin,  with- 
drew from  Rome,  and  putting  himself  at 
the  head  of  his  troops,  marched  against  the 
Saracens,  who  had  made  some  inroads  into 
Italy,  but  he  died  in  the  expedition. 

Olympius  was  succeeded  by  Calliopas, 
who  received  express  orders  to  seize  the 
person  of  Martin,  which,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  a  considerable  body  of  troops,  he 
performed  ;  at  the  same  time  showing  the 
clergy  the  imperial  mandate,  which  com- 
manded him  to  dispossess  Martin  of  his 
bishopric,  and  carry  him  to  Constantinople 
as  a  prisoner. 

After  a  very  tedious  voyage,  and  en- 
during innumerable  hardships,  he  reached 
the  imperial  city  of  Constantinople,  and  was 
immediately  thrown  into  prison.     While  in 


confinement,  he  wrote  two  epistles  to  the 
emperor  to  refute  the  calumnies  forged 
against  him,  with  respect  to  his  faith  and 
loyalty.  The  substance  of  which  was,  that 
"  for  a  proof  of  the  soundness  of  the  former, 
he  appeals  to  the  testimony  of  the  whole 
clergy,  and  his  own  solemn  protestation  to 
defend  the  truth  as  long  as  he  lived.  In 
answer  to  such  objections  as  had  been 
made  against  the  latter,  he  declares  he 
never  sent  either  money,  letters,  or  advice, 
to  the  Saracens,  but  only  remitted  a  sum 
for  the  relief  of  poor  Christians  among 
those  people  :  he  concludes  with  saying, 
that  nothing  could  be  more  false  than  what 
the  heretics  had  alleged  against  him  con- 
cerning the  Blessed  Virgin,  whom  he  firm- 
ly believed  to  be  the  mother  of  God,  and 
worthy  of  all  honor  after  her  divine  Son. 
In  his  second  letter  he  gives  a  particular 
account  of  his  being  seized  at  Rome,  as 
already  related,  and  his  indisposition  and 
ill  usage  since  he  was  dragged  from  that 
city  ;  and  ends  with  wishing  and  hoping 
his  persecutors  would  repent  of  their  con- 
duct, when  the  object  of  their  hatred  was 
removed  from  this  world." 

The  fatigues  that  Martin  had  undergone 
were  so  many,  and  his  infirmities  so  great, 
that  on  the  day  appointed  for  his  trial,  he 
was  forced  to  be  brought  out  of  prison  in  a 
chair,  as  he  was  unable  to  walk.  When 
he  was  before  the  court,  the  judge  ordered 
him  to  stand,  which  not  being  able  to  do, 
two  men  were  ordered  to  hold  him  up. 
Twenty  witnesses  were  produced  against 
him,  who  swore  as  they  were  directed,  and 
charged  him  with  pretended  crimes  that  had 
been  invented  for  the  purpose.  Martin  be- 
gan his  defence,  but  as  soon  as  he  entered 
upon  an  investigation  of  the  errors  which 
he  had  combated,  one  of  the  senators  stop- 
ped him,  and  said,  that  he  was  only  ex- 
amined respecting  civil  affairs,  and  conse- 
quently that  ecclesiastical  matters  had  noth- 
ing to  do  in  his  defence.  The  judge  then 
prevented  him  from  going  on,  and  having 
broke  up  the  court,  went  and  reported  the 
progress  of  the  proceedings  to  the  emperor. 


■ 


86 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


Martin  was  now  ordered  to  be  exposed 
in  the  most  public  places  of  the  town,  to 
the  ridicule  of  the  people  ;  to  be  divested 
of  all  episcopal  marks  of  distinction,  and  to 
be  treated  with  the  greatest  scorn  and  se- 
verity. All  these  rigors  he  bore  with  a 
Christian-like  patience,  and  a  degree  of 
fortitude,  that  only  Heaven  can  inspire  ;  and 
trusted  to  Christ  as  his  strength,  agreeable 
to  the  prophecy,  Isaiah  xl.  27,  30,  which 

$  has  been  thus  beautifully  paraphrased  by  a 

\  learned  divine  : — 

a  Whence  do  our  mournful  thoughts  arise? 
And  where's  our  courage  fled  ? 
Has  restless  sin,  and  raging  hell, 
Struck  all  our  comforts  dead  ? 

u  Have  we  forgot  the  Almighty  name, 
That  formed  the  earth  and  sea  ? 
And  can  an  all-creating  arm 
Grow  weary,  or  decay  ? 

"  Treasures  of  everlasting  might 
In  our  Jehovah  dwell, 
He  gives  the  conquest  to  the  weak, 
And  treads  their  foes  to  hell. 

"  Mere  mortal  power  shall  fade  and  die, 
And  youthful  vigor  cease  ; 
But  we  that  wait  upon  the  Lord, 
Shall  feel  our  strength  increase. 

"  The  saints  shall  mount  on  eagles'  wings, 
And  taste  the  promised  bliss, 
Till  their  unwearied  feet  arrive, 
Where  perfect  pleasure  is." 

After  laying  some  months  in  prison, 
Martin  was  sent  to  an  island  at  some  dis- 
tance, and  there  cut  to  pieces,  A.  D.  655. 

John,  bishop  of  Bergamo,  in  Lombardy, 
was  a  learned  man,  and  a  good  Christian. 
He  did  his  utmost  endeavors  to  clear  the 
church  from  the  errors  of  Arianism,  and 
joining  in  this  holy  work  with  John,  bishop 
of  Milan,  he  was  very  successful  against 
the  heretics.  Grimoald,  however,  an  Arian, 
having  usurped  the  throne  of  Lombardy, 
the  orthodox  Christians  feared  that  heresy 
would  gain  footing,  once  more,  in  Lom- 
bardy ;  but  the  bishop  of  Bergamo  used 
such  persuasive  arguments  with  Grimoald, 
that  he  brought  him  from  the  errors  of 
Arianism  to  profess  the  orthodox  faith. 

After  the  death  of  Grimoald,  and  his  son 
who  succeeded  him,  Pantharit  came  to  the 
crown,  and  again  introduced  those  errors 
which  had  been  combated  with  such  spirit 


by  the  orthodox  clergy.  The  bishop  of 
Bergamo  exerted  himself  strenuously  to 
prevent  the  heresy  from  spreading,  on  which 
account  he  was  assassinated  on  July  11, 
A.  D.  683. 

"  Conscience,  the  guilty  will  control, 
And  waken  horrors  in  the  soul  ; 
Pursue  the  bloody  murderer's  feet, 
At  every  turn  the  villain  meet ; 
And  do  that  justice  law  denies, 
With  dreadful  stings,  and  glaring  eyes." 

Adalbert,  bishop  of  Prague,  was  a 
Bohemian  by  birth.  His  parents  were 
,  persons  of  rank,  but  more  distinguished  for 
their  virtue  and  piety  than  for  their  opulence 
or  lineage.  They  were  happy  in  a  son, 
whose  dawning  perfections  gave  them  a 
pleasing  hope,  that  he  would  one  day  be- 
come a  shining  ornament  to  his  family. 
That  he  might  fulfil  their  expectations,  they 
gave  him  a  complete  education  ;  but  their 
joy  was  in  some  measure  damped,  by  his 
falling  into  a  dropsy,  from  which  he  was 
with  difficulty  recovered. 

When  he  was  effectually  cured,  they 
sent  him  to  Magdaburg,  and  committed  him 
to  the  care  of  the  archbishop  of  that  city, 
who  completed  his  education,  and  confirm- 
ed him  in  piety  and  virtue.  The  rapid 
progress  which  Adalbert  made  in  human 
and  divine  learning,  made  him  dear  to  the 
prelate,  who,  to  the  authority  of  a  teacher, 
joined  all  the  tenderness  of  a  parent  for  his 
amiable  pupil. 

Having  spent  nine  years  at  Magdaburg, 
he  retired  to  his  own  country  upon  the 
death  of  the  archbishop,  and  entered  him- 
self among  the  clergy  at  Prague.  Dithmar, 
bishop  of  Prague,  died  soon  after  the  re- 
turn of  Adalbert  to  that  city ;  and,  in  his 
expiring  moments,  expressed  such  contri- 
tion for  having  been  ambitious,  and  solici- 
tous of  worldly  honor  and  riches,  as  sur- 
prised every  one  who  heard  it.  Adalbert, 
who  was  among  the  number  present,  was 
so  sensibly  affected  at  the  bishop's  dying 
sentiments,  that  he  received  them  as  an 
admonition  to  the  strict  practice  of  virtue, 
which  he  afterward  exercised  with  the 
greatest   attention,  spending  his   time    in 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


87 


\ 


prayer,   and    relieving    the   poor   with  a 

cheerful  liberality. 

A  few  days  after  the  decease  of  Dithmar, 
|  an  assembly  was  held  for  the  choice  of  a 
|  successor,  which  consisted  of  the  clergy  of 

<  Prague,  and  the  chief  quality  of  Bohemia. 
>  Adalbert's  character  for  every  virtue  that 

<  important  post  required  soon  determined 
l  them  to  raise  him  to  the  vacant  see,  which 
|  they  did  on  the  19th  of  February,  983. 
!  Messengers  were  immediately  despatched 

to  Verona,  to  desire  Otho  II.  would  confirm 
the  election.  The  emperor  granted  the 
request,  ordered  Adalbert  to  repair  to  court 
for  investiture,  gave  him  the  ring  and 
crosier,  and  then  sent  him  to  the  arch- 
bishop of  Mentz  for  consecration.  That 
ceremony  was  performed  on  the  29th  of: 
June  the  same  year ;  and  he  was  received 
at  Prague  with  all  possible  demonstrations 
of  public  joy.  He  divided  the  revenue  of  '< 
his  see  into  four  parts,  according  to  the  di- 
rection of  the  canons  extant  in  the  fifth 
century.  The  first  was  employed  in  the 
fabric,  and  ornaments  of  the  church ;  the 
second  went  to  the  maintenance  of  the 
clergy ;  the  third  was  laid  out  for  the  relief  j 
of  the  poor  ;  and  the  fourth  reserved  for  the 
support  of  himself  and  family ;  which  was 
always  made  to  include  twelve  indigent 
persons,  to  whom  he  allowed  daily  subsist- 
ence. 

He  now  performed  his  duty  with  the  ut- 
most assiduity,  and  spent  a  great  portion  of; 
his  time  in  preaching  to  and  exhorting  the 
people.  His  conduct  was  discreet  and  hu- 
mane ;  and  his  manner  neither  too  severe 
nor  too  indulgent ;  so  that  his  flock  were 
not  terrified  into  despair,  or  flattered  into 
presumption.  But  some  things  which  he 
could  not  remedy  gave  him  great  uneasi- 
ness, particularly  the  having  a  plurality  of; 
wives,  and  selling  the  Christians  to  the 
Jews,  for  trivial  offences.  Hence  he  de- 
termined to  consult  the  pope,  and  made  a 
journey  to  Rome.  Accordingly,  John,  who 
then  sat  in  the  papal  chair,  received  him 
with  great  cordiality,  and  having  heard  his 
grievance,    advised   him   to    give    up    his 


bishopric,  rather  than  be  the  witness  of 
enormities,  which  he  could  not  remedy. 
He  determined  to  take  the  pope's  advice, 
and  to  devote  the  remainder  of  his  days  to 
mortification,  poverty,  and  silence ;  which 
design  he  began,  by  giving  all  his  treasures 
to  the  poor.  He  was,  however,  before  he 
entirely  secluded  himself  from  mankind, 
desirous  of  seeing  the  Holy  Land,  and  set 
off"  accordingly,  with  three  persons  in  his 
company. 

In  their  way  they  arrived  at  Mount  Cas- 
sino,  where  the  heads  of  the  monastery  of 
that  place  received  them  in  a  very  friendly 
manner,  and  entertained  them  as  well  as 
the  rules  of  their  order  would  admit.  Be- 
ing apprized  of  the  cause  of  their  journey, 
when  they  were  about  to  depart  the  supe- 
rior of  the  monastery  addressed  himself  to 
Adalbert,  and  observed  to  him,  that  the 
journey  he  had  undertaken  would  give  him 
more  trouble  and  uneasiness  than  he  was 
aware  of;  that  the  frequent  desire  of  chang- 
ing place  and  travelling,  often  proceeded 
more  from  a  restless  disposition,  and  eager 
curiosity,  than  real  religion,  or  solid  devo- 
tion. "  Therefore,"  said  he,  "  if  you  will 
listen  to  my  advice,  leave  the  world  at  once 
with  sincerity,  and  settle  in  some  religious 
community,  without  desiring  to  see  more 
than  you  have  already  seen."  Adalbert 
listened  attentively,  and  came  readily  into 
the  sentiments  of  the  superior,  which  soon 
determined  him  to  take  up  his  residence  in 
that  monastery,  where  he  then  thought  he 
might  live  entirely  recluse,  and,  being  un- 
known, might  pass  unhonored  to  the  grave. 
But  in  the  latter  particular  he  was  mis- 
taken ;  for  the  priests,  by  accident,  coming 
to  a  knowledge  of  the  rank  and  former  dig- 
nity of  their  colleague,  began  to  treat  him 
with  great  deference  and  respect,  which 
occasioned  him  to  leave  the  place.  Nilus, 
a  Grecian,  was  then  at  the  head  of  a  com- 
munity not  far  from  Mount  Cassino  ;  Adal- 
bert made  his  way  to  him,  and  begged  to 
be  received  into  his  monastery.  He  as- 
sured him  he  would  willingly  comply  with 
his  request,  if  he   thought  the    rule   and 


K 


88 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


practice  of  his  religious  family  would  be 
agreeable  to  a  stranger;  besides  which,  he 
told  him  that  the  house  in  which  he  and  his 
people  lived  was  given  to  them  by  those  of 
Mount  Cassino  ;  and  therefore  it  might  not 
be  safe  for  him  to  receive  one  that  had  left 
that  community.  When  Nilus  had  thus 
excused  himself,  he  advised  him  to  return 
to  Home,  and  apply  himself  to  Leo,  an  ab- 
bot of  his  acquaintance  there,  to  whom  he 
gave  a  letter  of  recommendation.  Adalbert 
went  to  Rome,  where  he  found  Leo,  who, 
before  he  would  admit  him,  put  his  virtue 
and  courage  to  proper  trials,  by  speaking 
roughly  to  him,  and  giving  him  a  terrible 
account  of  the  labors  and  severities  of  the 
state  in  which  he  desired  to  engage.  But, 
finding  his  resolution  was  not  moved  or 
weakened  by  the  prospect  of  the  most  aus- 
tere mortifications,  he  conducted  him  to  the 
pope,  and,  with  the  consent  of  that  pontiff 
and  the  whole  college  of  cardinals,  gave 
him  the  habit  on  Holy  Thursday  in  the  year 
990.  We  have  already  said  that  he  had 
been  attended  only  by  three  select  persons 
ever  since  he  had  the  pope's  advice  for  re- 
signing his  bishopric  ;  two  of  them  left  him 
now  ;  but  the  third,  who  was  his  own 
brother  Gaudentius,  followed  his  example, 
and  engaged  in  the  same  community. 
Adalbert,  full  of  the  most  profound  humili- 
ty, took  a  particular  pleasure  in  the  lowest 
employments  of  the  house,  and  lived  here 
an  excellent  pattern  of  Christian  simplicity 
and  obedience. 

The  archbishop  of  Mentz,  as  a  metro- 
politan, was  exceedingly  afflicted  at  the  dis- 
orders in  the  church  of  Prague,  and  wished 
for  the  return  of  the  bishop,  with  whose  re- 
treat he  was  not,  for  sometime,  acquainted. 
At  length,  after  five  years'  absence,  he 
heard  that  Adalbert  was  at  Rome,  when  he 
sent  a  deputation  to  the  pope  to  press  his 
return  to  his  diocese.  The  pope  summon- 
ed a  council  to  consider  of  the  deputation, 
and  after  a  warm  dispute  between  the 
monks  and  deputies,  the  latter  carried  their 
point,  and  Adalbert  was  ordered  to  return 


to  his  diocese  ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  had 
permission  to  quit  his  charge  again,  if  he 
found  his  flock  as  incorrigible  as  before. 
The  inhabitants  of  Prague  met  him,  on  his 
arrival,  with  great,  joy,  and  promised  obe- 
dience to  his  directions  ;  but  they  socn  for- 
got their  promises,  and  relapsed  into  their 
former  vices,  which  obliged  him,  a  second 
time,  to  leave  them,  and  return  to  his 
monastery. 

The  archbishop  of  Mentz  sent  another 
deputation  to  Rome,  and  desired  that,  his 
suffragan  might  be  again  ordered  back  to 
his  diocese.  Gregory  V.  who  was  then 
pope,  commanded  him  to  return  to  Prague  ; 
and  he  obeyed,  though  with  great  reluct- 
ance. 

The  Bohemians,  however,  did  not  look 
upon  him  as  before,  but  deemed  him  the 
censor  of  their  faults,  and  the  enemy  to 
their  pleasures,  and  threatened  him  with 
death  upon  his  arrival ;  but  not  having  him 
yet  in  their  power,  contented  themselves 
with  falling  on  his  relations,  several  of 
whom  they  murdered,  plundered  their 
estates,  and  set  fire  to  their  houses. 
Adalbert  had  intelligence  of  these  out- 
rageous proceedings,  and  could  not  judge 
it  prudent  to  proceed  on  his  journey.  He 
therefore  went  to  the  duke  of  Poland,  who 
had  a  particular  respect  for  him,  and  en- 
gaged that  prince  to  sound  the  Bohemians 
in  regard  to  his  return  ;  but  could  get  no 
better  answer  from  that  wretched  people, 
than  that  "  they  were  sinners,  hardened  in 
iniquity ;  and  Adalbert  a  saint,  and  conse- 
quently not  fit  to  live  among  them  ;  for 
which  reason  he  was  not  to  hope  for  a 
tolerable  reception  at  Prague."  The  bish- 
op thought  this  message  discharged  him 
from  any  further  concern  for  that  church, 
and  began  to  direct  his  thoughts  to  the  con- 
version of  infidels ;  to  which  end  he  re- 
paired to  Dantzic,  where  he  converted 
and  baptized  many,  which  so  enraged  the 
pagan  priests,  that  they  fell  upon  him  and 
despatched  him  with  darts,  on  the  23d  of 
April,  A.  D.  997. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


89 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  THE  ELEVENTH  CENTURY. 

jjjp  LPHAGE,  archbishop  of  5  remainder  of  his  life  in  religious  security  ; 
Canterbury,  was  descend- ?  when  the  following  affair  once  more  drew 
ed  from  a  considerable  \  him  from  his  retreat : — 
family  in  Gloucestershire)  <  The  see  of  Winchester  being  vacant  by 
and  received  an  education  |  the  death  of  Ethelwold,  it  was  no  easy 
suitable  to  his  illustrious  matter  to  agree  upon  the  choice  of  a  suc- 
birth.  His  parents  were  worthy  Christians,  cessor  to  that  bishopric.  The  clergy  had 
and  Alphage  seemed  to  inherit  all  their  been  driven  out  of  the  cathedral  for  their 
virtues.  He  was  prudent  and  humble,  scandalous  lives,  but  were  admitted  again 
pious  and  chaste  :  he  made  a  rapid  progress  |  by  King  Ethelred,  upon  certain  terms  of 
both  in  polite  literature  and  scripture  learn- 1  reformation.  The  monks,  who  had  been 
ing,  and  was,  at  once,  the  admired  scholar,  j  introduced  upon  their  expulsion,  looked 
and  devout  Christian :  he  strove  to  make  upon  themselves  as  the  chapter  of  that 
the  arts  useful  to  the  purposes  of  life,  and  church ;  and  hence  arose  a  violent  contest 
to  render  philosophy  subservient  to  the  between  them,  and  the  clergy  who  had  been 
cause  of  religion.  In  order  to  be  more  at  j  readmitted,  about  the  election  of  a  bishop  ; 
leisure  to  contemplate  the  divine  perfec-  I  while  both  parties  were  hot,  and  vigurous- 
tions,  he  determined  to  renounce  his  fortune,  [  ly  set  upon  promoting  each  their  own  man. 
quit  home,  and  become  a  recluse.  He  ac-  This  dispute  at  last  ran  so  high,  that  Dun- 
cordingly  retired  to  a  monastery  of  Bene-^stan,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  as  primate 
dictines,  at  Deerhurst,  in  Gloucestershire  J  of  all  England,  was  obliged  to  interpose  in 
and  soon  after  took  the  habit.  s  the  affair,  who  consecrated  Alphage  to  the 

Considering  that  the  principal  business  I  vacant  bishopric,  to  the  general  satisfaction 
of  a  Christian  was  to  subdue  his  passions,  I  of  all  concerned  in  the  election,  or  iuter- 
and  mortify  his  appetites,  he  lived  with  the  I  ested  in  the  affair. 

utmost  temperance,  and  spent  the  greatest  I  Alphage's  behavior  was  a  sufficient  proof 
part  of  his  time  in  prayer.  But  not  think- 1  of  his  being  equal  to  the  dignity  of  his  vo- 
ing  the  austerities  he  underwent  in  this  \  cation.  Piety  flourished  in  his  diocese ; 
monastery  sufficiently  severe,  he  retired  to  I  unity  was  established  among  his  clergy  and 
a  lonely  cell  near  Bath,  and  lived  in  a  man- 1  people  ;  and  the  church  of  Winchester  re- 
ner  still  more  rigid  and  mortifying.  Here  I  covered  its  lustre  in  such  a  manner,  as 
he  thought  to  remain  unknown,  but  some  I  made  the  bishop  the  admiration  of  the  whole 
devout  persons  finding  out  his  retreat,  his  ',  kingdom. 

austere  life  soon  became  the  subject  of  con- 1  Dunstan  had  an  extraordinary  veneration 
versation  in  the  neighboring  villages,  where  I  for  Alphage,  and  when  at  the  point  of  death, 
many  flocked  to  him,  and  begged  to  be  >  made  it  his  ardent  request  to  God,  that  he 
taken  under  his  pastoral  care.  He  yielded  >  might  succeed  him  in  the  see  of  Canter- 
to  their  importunities,  raised  a  monastery  I  bury  ;  which  accordingly  happened,  though 
near  his  cell,  by  the  contributions  of  several  I  not  till  about  eighteen  years  after  Dunstan's 
well-disposed  persons;  formed  his  new  >  death.  In  the  course  of  that  period  the 
pupils  into  a  community,  and  placed  a  prior  \  metropolitan  church  was  governed  by  three 
over  them.  Having  prescribed  rules  for  ?  successive  prelates  ;  the  last  of  whom  was 
their  regulation,  he  again  retired  to  his  be-\  Alfrick ;  upon  whose  decease,  in  1006,  AJ- 
loved  cell,  fervently  wishing  to  pass  the  \  phage  was  raised  to  the  see  of  Canterbury. 


m 


90 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


The  people  belonging  to  the  diocese  of  <  when  his  presence  was  more  necessary- 
Winchester  were  the  only  persons  who  did  <  than  ever,  and  was  resolved  to  hazard  his 
not  sincerely  rejoice  at  his  promotion ;  for  <  life  in  their  defence,  at  this  calamitous 
they  were  too  sensible  of  the  loss  they  sus-  ^juncture.  While  he  was  employed  in  as- 
tained  by  his  translation,  not  to  regret  his  <  sisting  and  encouraging  his  people,  Can- 
removal  to  Canterbury.  <  terbury  was  taken  by  storm ;  the  enemy 
Soon  after  his  being  made  archbishop  he  j  poured  into  the  town,  and  destroyed  all  that 
|  went  to  Rome,  and  received  the  pall  from  i  came  in  their  way,  by  fire  and  sword.  The 
j  Pope  John  XVIII.,  and  after  his  return  to  j  monks  did  what  they  could  to  detain  the 
•>  England,  labored  assiduously  to  introduce  <  archbishop  in  the  church,  where  they  hoped 
s  the  best  regulations  into  the  church.  <  he  might  be  safe.  But  his  concern  for  his 
\       After  Alphage  had  governed  the  see  of  <  flock  made  him  break  from  them,  and  run 

>  Canterbury  about  four  years,  with  great  rep-  \  into  the  midst  of  the  danger.  He  had  the 
)  utation  to  himself,  and  benefit  to  his  peo-  s  courage  to  address  the  enemy,  and  offer 

>  pie,  the    Danes    made    an    incursion    into  s  himself  to  their  swords,  as  more  worthy 

>  England.  Ethelred,  who  then  reigned,  i  their  rage  than  the  people  :  he  begged  they 
)  was  a  prince  of  very  weak  understanding,  \  might  be  saved,  and  that  they  would  dis- 
t  and  pusillanimous  disposition.  Too  fear-  s  charge  their  whole  fury  on  him.  Theyac- 
t  ful  to  face  the  enemy  himself,  and  too  ir-  s  cordingly  seized  him,  tied  his  hands,  in- 
;  resolute  to  furnish  others  with  the  means  i  suited,  and  abused  him  in  a  rude  and  bar- 
\  of  acting  in  his  stead,  he  suffered  his  coun- 1  barous  manner  ;  and  obliged  him  to  remain 
|  try  to  be  ravaged  with  impunity,  and  the  s  on  the  spot  till  his  church  was  burnt,  and 

greatest  depredations  to  be  committed,  at  5  the   monks   massacred.     They  then   deci- 

the  option  of  his  enemies.  \  mated  all  the  inhabitants,  both  ecclesiastics, 

The  archbishop  Alphage,  upon  this  try- ',  and  laymen,  leaving  only  every  tenth  per- 

ing  occasion,  acted  with  great  resolution  j  son  alive :   so  that  they  put  7,236  persons 

and  humanity  :  he  went  boldly  to  the  Danes,    to  death,  and  left  only  four  monks,  and  800 

purchased   the  freedom  of   several  whom  \  laymen  alive  :    after  which  they  confined 

[  they  had  made  captives ;  found  means  to  \  the  archbishop  in  a  dungeon,  where  they 

\  send  a  sufficient  quantity  of  food  to  others,  j  kept  him  close  prisoner  for  several  months. 

\  whom  he  had  not  money  enough  to  redeem,  \      During  his  confinement,  they  proposed  to 

\  and   even   made  converts   of  some  of  the  \  him  to  redeem  his  liberty  with  the  sum  of 

\  Danes:   but  the  latter  circumstance  made  j;  .£3,000  and  to  persuade  the  king  to  purchase 

\  the   Danes,    who    still    continued    pagans,  <;  their  departure  out  of  the  kingdom  with  a 

\  greater  enemies  to  him  than  they  would \  further  sum  of  jCIO.000.     Alphage's    cir- 

otherwise  have  been,  and  determined  them  \  cumstances  would  not  allow  him  to  satisfy 

to  be  revenged  on  him  for  occasioning  a  j  the  exorbitant  demand:    they  bound  him, 

change  in  the  sentiments  of  their  compan-  <  and  put  him  to  severe  torments,  to  oblige 

ions.     Edric,  an  English  malecontent,  and  \  him  to  discover  the  treasure  of  his  church  ; 

>  an  infamous  traitor,  gave  the  Danes  every  \  upon  which  they  assured  him  of  his  life 
\  encouragement,  and  even  assisted  them  in  <  and  liberty.  The  prelate  knew,  that  what 
\  laying  siege  to  Canterbury.  When  the  de-  <  they  insisted  on  was  the  inheritance  of  the 
\  sign  of  attacking  this  city  was  known,  poor,  not  to  be  thrown  away  upon  the  bar- 
l  many  of  the  principal  people  made  a  preci-  I  barous  enemies  of  the  Christian  religion  ; 
I  piuite  flight  from  it,  and  would  have  per-  \  and  therefore  persisted  in  refusing  to  give 
j  Bliaded  Alphage  to  follow  their  example.  <  them  any  account  of  it.  They  remanded 
\  But  he,  like  a  good  pastor,  would  not  listen  |  him  to  prison  again,  confined  him  six  days 
|  to  such  proposal ;  he  assured  them  he  could  \  longer,  and  then  taking  him  with  them  to 
\  not  think  of  abandoning  his  flock,  at  a  time  <  Greenwich,  brought  him  to  a  trial  there. 


R" 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


91 


i  He  still  remained  inflexible  with  respect  to  '<  pleasure  to  find  that  his  endeavors  were  not 
|  the  church  treasures  ;  but  exhorted  them  to  i  unsuccessful,  for  his  sweetness  of  disposi- 
j  forsake  their  idolatry,  and  embrace  Chris-  <  tion  won  upon  the  people  so  much,  that  they 
I  tianity.  This  so  greatly  incensed  the  \  could  not  help  believing  one  whom  they 
<  Danes,  that  the  soldiers  dragged  him  out  \  loved,  or  of  placing  a  confidence  in  the  doc- 
of  the  camp,  and  beat  him  unmercifully.  \  trines  of  a  man  they  had  such  great  reason 
Alphage  bore  this  usage  patiently,  and  even  \  to  reverence. 

prayed  for  his  persecutors.  One  of  the  >  His  conquests  over  idolatry  were  not 
soldiers,  who  had  been  converted  and  bap-  I  confined  to  his  own  diocese,  but  extended 
tized  by  him,  was  greatly  afflicted,  that  his  /  to  the  adjacent  country,  where  his  doctrines 
pains  should  be  so  lingering,  as  he  knew  i  successfully  spread,  and  many  became  con- 
his  death  was  determined  on ;  he,  there-  >  verts  to  the  pure  faith  of  Christ.  "Wher- 
fore,  with  the  fury  of  a  desperate  zeal,  and  \  ever  the  faith  made  its  way  by  his  ministry, 
a  kind  of  barbarous  compassion,  cut  off  his  {  he  took  care  to  establish  ecclesiastical  dis- 
head,  and  thus  put  the  finishing  stroke  to  ;:  cipline  for  the  preservation  of  religion,  and 
his  martyrdom,  on  April  19,  A.  D.  1012.  $  made  several  useful  regulations  in  the  pub- 
This  transaction  happened  on  the  very  spot  '/  lie  service  of  the  church.  His  exemplary 
where  the  church  at  Greenwich,  which  is  \  conduct  was  at  least  as  instructive  as  his 
dedicated  to  him,  now  stands.  After  his  j  sermons  and  exhortations,  and  went  a  great 
death  his  body  was  thrown  into  the  Thames,  j  way  in  convincing  his  converts  of  the  truth 
but  being  found  the  next  day,  it  was  buried  \  and  dignity  of  their  new  profession  :  for 
in  the  cathedral  of  St.  Paul's  by  the  bish-  \  who  could  doubt  of  the  excellency  of  a  re- 
ops  of  London  and  Lincoln;  whence  it  Migion,  that  raised  him  above  the  weaknesses 
was,  in  the  year  1023,  removed  to  Canter-  \  and  passions  of  human  nature  ;  and  appear- 
bury  by  iEthelmoth,  the  archbishop  of  that  \  ed  divine,  by  placing  him  at  a  distance  from 
province.  \  all  that  flatters  or  delights  the  senses  ?     He 

Gerard,  a  Venetian,  devoted  himself  to  l  visited  his  diocese,  and  was  remarkable  for 
the  service  of  God  from  his  tender  years  ;  i  an  uncommon  tenderness  for  the  poor,  espe- 
entered  into  a  religious  house  for  some  time,  i  cially  such  as  had  the  misfortune  of  sick- 
and  then  determined  to  visit  the  Holy  Land.  \  ness,  or  were  incapable  of  following  their 
Going  into  Hungary,  he  became  acquainted  |  accustomed  employments, 
with  Stephen,  the  king  of  that  country,  ?  During  the  life  of  Stephen,  Gerard  re- 
who,  at  once,  acted  the  parts  of  prince  and  /  ceived  every  kind  of  assistance  which  that 
preacher,  and  not  only  regulated  his  sub-  j  excellent  monarch  could  afford  him  ;  but 
jects  by  wholesome  laws,  but  taught  them  \  on  the  demise  of  Stephen,  his  nephew 
religious  duties.  Finding  Gerard  every  \  Peter,  who  succeeded  him,  was  of  so  dif- 
way  qualified  to  instruct  his  people,  he  \  ferent  a  temper,  that  Gerard  was  greatly 
tried,  by  every  means,  to  detain  him  in  his  l  perplexed  during  his  government, 
kingdom  ;  and,  at  length,  founding  several  j  At  length,  the  tyranny  of  Peter  exasper- 
churches,  he  made  Gerard  bishop  of  that  j  ated  his  subjects  so  much  against  him,  that 


Chonad. 


i  they  deposed  him,  and  placed  Ouvo  on  the 


Gerard  had  a  very  difficult  task  to  per-  ^  throne.  They,  however,  soon  found,  that 
\  form ;  the  people  of  his  diocese  were  fond  \  they  had  changed  from  bad  to  worse  ;  for 
»  of  and  accustomed  to  idolatry ;  and  their '  Ouvo  proved  a  greater  monster  of  cruelty 
I  perverseness  was  equal  to  their  immorality.  \  than  his  predecessor.  At  Easter  Ouvo  re- 
s  The  new  bishop,  however,  assiduous  in  \  paired  to  Chonad,  in  order  to  receive  the 
>  his  charge,  and  full  of  zeal  for  the  salvation  s  crown  from  the  hands  of  Gerard.  When 
|  of  his  flock,  labored  diligently  to  bring  them  j  he  arrived  at  the  place,  the  other  prelates 
\  \»  a  sense  of  their  duty.  He  soon  had  the  \  of  the  kingdom,  who  were  assembled  on 
L  J  ^ 


92 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


that  solemn  occasion,  assured   the  prince  £      Stanislaus,  bishop  of  Cracow,  was  de- 
of    their   affections     for    his    person,    and  \  scended  from  an  illustrious  Polish  family, 
promised  to  concur  in  his  coronation  ;  but  \  The  piety  of  his  parents  was  equal  to  their 
Gerard  absolutely  refused  to  pay  that  com- ',  opulence,  and  the  latter  they  rendered  sub- 
pliment  to  a  public  and  malicious  enemy  ;  \  servient  to  all  the  purposes  of  charity  and 
and  took  the  liberty  of  letting  the  intruder \  benevolence.      Stanislaus   was   their  only 
know,  that  he  could  not  look  on  Peter's  ex-  \  child,  and  consequently  the  sole  object  of 
elusion  as  regular,  and  consequently  should  ;  their  parental  affection.     When  he  was  of 
not  proceed  to  do  anything  to  the  prejudice  5  a  proper   age,  they  employed  masters  in 
of  his  title :  he  then  told  him,  that  if  he  \  several    branches  of  learning  to    instruct 
persisted    in    his    usurpation,    the    Divine  I  him,  and  were  happy  to  find,  that  his  rapid 
Providence  would  soon  put  an  end  to  his  '>  improvement    fully    answered    their    most 
life  and  reign.     Ouvo  growing  more  insup- J  sanguine  expectations.     He   had   a  pene- 
portable  than  his  predecessor,  was  brought  '>  trating  genius,  retentive  memory,  and  solid 
to  the   scaffold   in   the   year   1044;    upon  /  understanding ;    hence    study  became   his 
which  Peter  was  recalled,  and  placed  on  i  amusement,  learning  his  delight,  and  books  \ 
the  throne  a  second  time  ;  but  his  disposi-  ?  his  beloved  companions.     Nor  was  his  dis-  \ 
tion  and  retirement  had  made  no  alteration  ?  position  inferior  to  his    abilities  ;   he  was  < 
in  his  temper,  so  that  he  was  again  depriv-  \  modest,  mild,  candid,  and  grave,  temperate  ) 
ed  of  the  royal  dignity  after  two  years'  pos-  \  in  his  meals,  and  moderate  in  his  sleep  ;  he  i 
session.  /  voluntarily  gave  himself,  in   the  dawn   of  s 

Andrew,  son  of  Ladislaus,  cousin-german  \  youth,  to  such  austerities,  as  might  have 
to  Stephen,  had  then  a  tender  of  the  crown  <  given  reputation  to  a  professed  hermit, 
made  him,  upon  condition  that  he  would  <  Having  pursued  his  studies  at  home  for 
employ  his  authority  in  extirpating  the  ',  some  years,  he  was  sent  to  a  seminary  of 
Christian  religion  out  of  Hungary.  The  ',  learning  in  Poland,  and  afterward  to  the 
ambitious  prince  came  into  the  proposal,  \  university  of  Paris,  that  his  education  might 
and  promised  to  do  his  utmost  in  re-estab-  \  be  completed  in  that  celebrated  seat  of 
lishing  the  idolatrous  worship  of  his  de-  s  literature.  After  continuing  seven  years  at 
luded  ancestors.  Gerard,  being  informed  i  Paris,  he  returned  to  his  own  country,  and 
of  this  impious  bargain,  thought  his  duty  s  on  the  demise  of  his  parents  became  pos- 
obliged  him  to  remonstrate  against  the  s  sessed  of  a  plentiful  fortune.  Sensible  that 
enormity  of  Andrew's  crime,  and  persuade  riches  constituted  no  part  of  a  Christian's 
hirn  to  withdraw  his  promise.  In  this  \  happiness,  any  further  than  as  they  enabled 
view  he  undertook  to  go  to  that  prince,  at-  him  to  assist  the  needy ;  he  devoted  most 
tended  by  three  other  prelates,  full  of  a  like  of  his  property  to  charitable  uses,  retaining 
zeal  for  religion.  The  new  king  was  at  s  only  a  small  portion  for  his  own  susten- 
Alba  Regalis,  but  as  the  four  bishops  were  s  ance. 

going  to  cross  the  Danube,  they  were  stop-  I      His  views  were  now  solely  directed  to 
ped  by  a  party  of  soldiers  posted  there  by  s  the  ministry;  but  he  remained  for  some-  j 
order  of  a  man  of  quality  in  the  neighbor-  5  time  undetermined,  whether  he  should  em- 
hood,  remarkable  for  his   aversion  to  the  s  brace  a  monastic  life,  or  engage  among  the 
Christian  religion,  and  to  Stephen's  memory,  s  secular    clergy.     He   was    at  length   per- 
They  bore  an  attack  with  a  shower  of  stones  s  suaded    to    the    latter   by    Lambert    Zula, 
patiently,  when  the  soldiers  proceeding  to  \  bishop  of  Cracow,  who  gave  him  holy  or- 
greater  outrages,  beat  them   unmercifully,  \  ders,  and  made  him  a  canon  of  his  cathedral.  < 
and  at  length  despatched  them  with  lances.  ',  In  this  capacity  he  lived  in  a  most  pious  < 
Their   martyrdoms  happened   in   the  year  \  and  exemplary  manner,  and  performed  the  j 
1045.  ^duties   of  his    function   with   unremitting 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


93 


assiduity  and  fervent  devotion.  Lambert 
could  not  help  being  charmed  with  the 
many  virtues  which  so  particularly  distin- 
guished Stanislaus,  and  would  fain  have 
resigned  his  bishopric  to  him.  The  reason 
he  alleged  for  such  resignation  was  his  great 
age,  but  Stanislaus  absolutely  refused  to 
accept  of  the  see,  for  the  contrary  reason, 
viz. :  his  want  of  years,  for  being  then  only 
thirty-six  years  old,  he  deemed  that  too 
early  a  time  of  life  for  a  man  to  undertake 
the  important  care  of  a  diocese.  Lambert, 
however,  made  him  his  substitute  upon 
various  occasions,  by  which  he  became 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  that  related 
to  the  bishopric.  Lambert  died  on  Novem- 
ber 25,  A.  D.  1071,  when  all  concerned  in 
the  choice  of  a  successor  declared  for 
Stanislaus.  But  his  former  objection  re- 
mained, and  on  account  of  his  age,  he  de- 
clined the  acceptance  of  the  prelacy. 

Determined,  however,  to  conquer  his 
scruples,  the  king,  clergy,  and  nobility, 
unanimously  joined  in  writing  to  Pope  Alex- 
ander II.  who  at  their  entreaty  sent  an 
express  order  that  Stanislaus  should  accept 
the  bishopric.  Thus  commanded,  he  obey- 
ed, and  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  in  the 
improvement  of  his  flock.  He  was  equally 
careful  with  respect  both  to  clergy  and 
laity ;  and  exhorted  the  former  to  show  a 
good  example  as  much  as  he  did  the  latter 
to  imitate  it.  He  kept  a  list  of  all  the  poor 
in  his  diocese,  and  by  feeding  the  hungry, 
clothing  the  naked,  and  administering  reme- 
dies to  the  sick,  he  proved  himself,  not  only 
the  godly  pastor,  but  the  bodily  physician 
and  generous  benefactor. 

Bolislaus  the  second  king  of  Poland  had, 
by  nature,  many  good  qualities,  but  giving 
way  too  much  to  his  passions  he  ran  into 
many  enormities.  He  daily  grew  worse 
and  worse,  and  from  being  deemed  a  good 
king,  at  length  had  the  appellation  of  cruel 
bestowed  on  him.  The  nobility  were 
shocked  at  his  conduct,  but  did  not  care  to 
speak  to  him  concerning  it,  and  the  clergy 
saw  his  proceedings  with  grief,  but  were 
afraid  to  reprehend  him.     Stanislaus  alone 


had  the  courage  to  tell  him  of  his  faults, 
when  taking  a  private  opportunity  he  free- 
ly displayed  to  him  the  enormity  of  his 
crimes. 

The  king  was  greatly  exasperated  at  this 
freedom,  but,  awed  by  the  virtues  of  the 
bishop,  dissembled  his  resentment,  and  ap- 
pearing to  be  convinced  of  his  errors 
promised  to  reform  his  conduct.  So  far, 
however,  from  designing  to  perform  his 
promise,  he  complained  to  some  of  his 
sycophants  of  the  freedom  that  Stanislaus 
had  taken  with  him  ;  and  they,  to  flatter  his 
folly,  condemned  the  boldness  of  the  bish- 
op. The  king,  soon  after,  attempted  the 
chastity  of  a  married  lady,  who  rejected  his 
offers  with  disdain  ;  which  piqued  his  pride 
so  much,  that  he  seized  her  by  force,  and 
violated  her  by  compulsion.  This  greatly 
alarmed  all  the  nobility :  none  knew  how 
long  his  own  wife,  daughter,  or  sister,  might 
be  safe  ;  and  each  dreaded  for  the  peace  of 
his  family.  They,  at  length,  assembled  to- 
gether, and  calling  the  clergy  to  their  as- 
sistance, entreated  Peter,  archbishop  of 
Gresne,  to  remonstrate  to  the  king  on  the 
impropriety  and  viciousness  of  his  conduct ; 
adding,  that  it  was  more  particularly  his 
business  so  to  do,  as  primate  of  Poland. 

The  archbishop,  however,  declined  the 
dangerous  task  ;  for  though  a  man  of  some 
virtue,  he  was  of  a  disposition  uncommonly 
mild.  Several  other  prelates  sheltered 
themselves  behind  his  refusal,  and  gave 
their  fear  the  name  of  modesty,  which 
would  not  permit  them  to  undertake  what 
their  metropolitan  had  thought  too  great  for 
his  abilities.  Stanislaus  alone  was,  as  be- 
fore, the  only  one  who  had  courage,  and 
zeal  sufficient,  to  perform  what  he  looked 
upon  as  a  most  important  and  indispensable 
duty.  He,  therefore,  put  himself  at  the 
head  of  a  select  number  of  ecclesiastics, 
noblemen,  and  gentlemen  ;  and,  proceeding 
to  court,  addressed  the  king  in  a  solemn  and 
serious  manner,  and  fully  represented  the 
heinousness  of  his  crimes,  and  what  would 
be  the  fatal  consequences  of  his  debauch- 
eries. 


ft' 


94 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


The  king  had  scarce  patience  to  hear 
him  out ;  and,  as  soon  as  he  had  done 
speaking,  flew  into  a  violent  passion,  at 
once  complaining  of  the  want  of  respect  to 
his  royal  dignity,  and  vowing  revenge  for 
what  he  called  an  insult  to  his  person. 
Stanislaus,  however,  not  in  the  least  in- 
timidated by  his  menaces,  visited  him  twice 
more,  and  remonstrated  with  him  in  a  simi- 
lar manner,  which  so  much  exasperated  the 
king,  that  he  knew  not  how  to  contain  him- 
|  self. 

The  nobility  and  clergy,  finding  that  the 
\  admonitions  of  the  bishop  had  not  the  de- 
li sired  effect  upon  the  king,  thought  proper 
:  to  interpose  between  them.  The  nobility 
;  entreated  the  bishop  to  refrain  from  any 
\  more  exasperating  a  monarch  of  so  fero- 
'  cious  and  untractable  a  temper ;  and  the 
'.  clergy  endeavored  to  persuade  the  king  not 
>.  to  be  offended  with  Stanislaus  for  his 
|  charitable  remonstrances.  Neither,  how- 
\  ever,  succeeded,  for  the  king  remained  as 
',  obstinate,  and  the  bishops  as  zealous,  as 
i  ever.  The  haughty  sovereign,  at  length, 
j  determined,  at  any  rate,  to  get  rid  of  a 
'  prelate,  who,  in  his  opinion,  was  so  ex- 
{  tremely  troublesome.  Hearing  one  day 
|  that  the  bishop  was  by  himself,  in  the 
)  chapel  of  St.  Michael,  at  a  small  distance 
\  from  the  town,  he  despatched  some  soldiers 
\  to  murder  him.  The  soldiers  readily  un- 
\  dertook  the  bloody  task  ;  but  when  they 
came  into  the  presence  of  Stanislaus,  the 
venerable  aspect  of  the  prelate  struck  them 


with  such  awe,  that  they  could  not  perform 
what  they  had  promised.  On  their  return, 
the  king,  finding  they  had  not  obeyed  his 
orders,  stormed  at  them  violently,  snatched 
a  dagger  from  one  of  them,  and  ran  furious- 
ly to  the  chapel,  where,  finding  Stanislaus 
at  the  altar,  he  plunged  the  weapon  to  his 
heart.  The  prelate  immediately  expired, 
on  the  8th  day  of  May,  in  the  year  1079, 
receiving  a  crown  of  martyrdom  as  a  re- 
ward for  his  zeal,  and  being  numbered 
among  the  glorified  saints,  whose  blessed- 
ness is  described  in  Revelation,  chap,  vii., 
v.  13,  &c,  which  passage  hath  been  ren- 
dered, by  a  learned  divine,  into  English 
verse. 

"  What  happy  men,  or  angels  these, 

That  all  their  robes  are  spotless  white  ? 
]         Whence  did  this  glorious  troop  arrive, 
At  the  pure  realms  of  heavenly  light  ? 

"  From  tottering  racks,  and  burning  fires, 
And  seas  of  their  own  blood,  they  came  ; 
But  nobler  blood  has  washed  their  robes, 
Flowing  from  Christ,  their  dying  lamb. 

"Now  they  approach  the  Almighty  throne, 
With  loud  hosannahs  night  and  day ; 
Sweet  anthems  to  the  Three  in  One, 
Measure  their  blessed  eternity. 

"  No  more  shall  hunger  pain  their  souls, 
He  bids  their  parching  thirst  be  gone, 
And  spreads  the  shadow  of  his  win^s, 
To  screen  them  from  the  scorching  sun. 

"  The  lamb  that  fills  the  middle  throne, 
Shall  shed  around  his  milder  beams; 
There  shall  they  feast  on  his  rich  love, 
And  drink  full  joys  from  living  streams. 

"  Thus  shall  their  mighty  bliss  renew, 

Through  the  vast  round  of  endless  years  ; 
And  the  soft  hand  of  sovereign  grace 

Heals  all  their  wounds,  and  wipes  their  tears." 


HORRIBLE  MASSACRE  IN  FRANCE,  A.  D.  1572. 

FTER   a   long   series   of  j  and  that  by  two  ways  :  first  by  pretend  rag 
troubles  in    France,  the  >  that  an  army  was  to  be  sent  into  the  lower  I 
papists    seeing    nothing    country,  under  the  command  of  the  admi- 
covdd    be    done    against  I  ral,  prince  of  Navarre  and  Conde  ;  not  that 
the  protestants  by  open  I  the  king  had  any  intention  of  so  doing,  but  , 
force,    began    to    devise    only  with  a  view  to  ascertain  what  force  the  * 
how  they  could  entrap   them   by  subtlety,  \  admiral  had  under  him,  who  they  were,  and  ( 

a 


MASSACRE    ON    THE    EVE    OF    ST.    BARTHOLOMEW. — Page    95 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYKOLOGY. 


97 


what  were  their  names.  The  second  was, 
a  marriage  suborned  between  the  prince  of 
Navarre  and  the  sister  of  the  king  of 
France ;  to  which  were  to  be  invited  all 
the  chief  protestants.  Accordingly,  they 
first  began  with  the  queen  of  Navarre  ;  she 
consented  to  come  to  Paris,  where  she 
was  at  length  won  over  to  the  king's  mind. 
Shortly  after  she  fell  sick,  and  died  within 
five  days,  not  without  suspicion  of  poison  ; 
but  her  body  being  opened,  no  signs  thereof 
appeared.  A  certain  apothecary,  however, 
made  his  boast,  that  he  had  killed  the  queen 
by  venomous  odors  and  smells,  prepared  by 
himself. 

Notwithstanding  this,  the  marriage  still 
proceeded.  The  admiral,  prince  of  Na- 
varre and  Conde,  with  divers  other  chief 
states  of  the  protestants,  induced  by  the 
king's  letters  and  many  fair  promises,  came 
to  Paris,  and  were  received  with  great 
solemnity.  The  marriage  at  length  took 
place  on  the  18th  of  August,  1572,  and 
was  solemnized  by  the  cardinal  of  Bourbon 
upon  a  high  stage  set  up  on  purpose  with- 
out the  church  walls  :  the  prince  of  Na- 
varre and  Conde  came  down,  waiting  for 
the  king's  sister,  who  was  then  at  mass. 
This  done,  the  company  all  went  to  the 
bishop's  palace  to  dinner.  In  the  evening 
they  were  conducted  to  the  king's  palace 
to  supper.  Four  days  after  this,  the  ad- 
miral coming  from  the  council-table,  on 
his  way  was  shot  at  with  a  pistol,  charged 
with  three  bullets,  and  wounded  in  both 
his  arms.  Notwithstanding  which,  he  still 
remained  in  Paris,  although  the  Vidam  ad- 
vised him  to  flee. 

Soldiers  were  appointed  in  various  parts 
of  the  city  to  be  ready  at  a  watch-word, 
upon  which  they  rushed  out  to  the  slaugh- 
ter of  the  protestants,  beginning  with  the 
admiral,  who  being  dreadfully  wounded, 
was  cast  out  of  the  window  into  the  street, 
where  his  head  being  struck  off,  was  em- 
balmed with  spices  to  be  sent  to  the  pope. 
The  savage  people  then  cut  off  his  arms 
and  mutilated  his  body,  and  drew  him  in 

that  state  through  the  streets  of  Paris,  after 

7 


>  which,  they  took  him  to  the  place  of  ex- 
',  ecution,  out  of  the  city,  and  there  hanged 
him  up  by  the  heels,  exposing  his  mutilated 
body  to  the  scorn  of  the  populace. 

The  martyrdom  of  this  virtuous  man  had 
no  sooner  taken  place,  than  the  armed  sol- 
diers ran  about  slaying  all  the  protestants 
they  could  find  within  the  city.     This  con- 
s  tinued  many  days,  but  the  greatest  slaugh- 
l  ter  was  in  the   first  three  days,  in  which 
s  were  said  to  be   murdered   above   10,000 
\  men  and  women,  old  and   young,  of  all 
I  sorts  and  conditions.     The  bodies  of  the 
\  dead  were  carried  in  carts  and  thrown  into 
I  the  river,  which  was  all  stained  therewith  ; 
\  also  whole  streams  in  various  parts  of  the 
city  ran  with  the  blood  of  the   slain.     In 
the  number  that  were   slain   of  the  more 
learned    sort,  were   Peter   Ramus,  Lambi- 
nus,  Plateanus,  Lomenius,  Chapesius,  and 
others. 

These  brutal  deeds  were  not  confined  ; 
within  the  walls  of  Paris,  but  extended  ; 
into  other  cities  and  quarters  of  the  realm,  ! 
especially  to  Lyons,  Orleans,  Toulouse,  j 
and  Rouen,  where  the  cruelties  were  un-  ! 
paralleled.  Within  the  space  of  one  month,  j 
thirty  thousand  protestants,  at  least,  are  \ 
said  to  have  been  slain,  as  is  credibly  re-  J 
ported  by  those  who  testify  of  the  matter.  ; 
When  intelligence  of  the  massacre  was  : 
received  at  Rome,  the  greatest  rejoicings  ; 
were  made.  The  pope  and  cardinals  went  I 
in  solemn  procession  to  the  church  of  St. 
Mark  to  give  thanks  to  God.  A  jubilee 
was  also  published,  and  the  ordnance  fired  ' 
from  the  castle  of  St.  Angelo.  To  the  ■ 
person  who  brought  the  news,  the  cardinal  •' 
of  Lorraine  gave  1,000  crowns.  Like  re-  ' 
joicings  were   also  made  all  over  France  J 

for  this  imagined  overthrow  of  the  faithful.  < 

■  i 

The  following  are  among  the  particulars  ; 

recorded  of  the  above  enormities  : — 

In  some  measure  to  palliate  their  cruel-  I 

ties,  the  Roman  catholics,  while  they  were  j 

murdering  the  innocent  people,  cried  out,  \ 

"  Vile  wretches,  this  is  for  wanting  to  over-  \ 

turn  the  constitution  of  your  country ;  this  \ 

is    for    conspiring   to    murder   the    king."  < 

- — 32 


R 


98 


"3 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


'i  Rank,  sex,  or  age,  were  no  protections  ;  I  gentleman  into  the  street,  stabbed  him  with  ', 
/  nobles  sunk  beneath  the  daggers  of  ruffians  ;  I  their  daggers,  laid  his  body  in  a  stable,  ; 
|  the  tears  of  beauty  made  no  impression  on  s  covered  his  face  with  manure,  and  the  next  \ 
\  the  hearts  of  bigotry ;  the  silver  hairs  of  I  day  threw  him  into  the  Seine. 

<  venerable  age,  and   the    piteous  cries    of  >      Peter    Ramus,  the    royal   professor    of   > 

<  helpless  infancy,  were  alike  disregarded.  •>  logic,  was  seized  in  the  college  over  which  j 
Superstition  steeled  the  hearts  of  the  pa- >  he  presided,  for  professing  protestant  tenets  ;  ) 
pists  against  the  ties  of  humanity ;  and  in-  >  and  after  being  murdered,  his  body  was 
fatuation  directed  the  sword  of  false  zeal,  \  thrown  out  of  the  window,  and  trailed  about  \ 
to  pierce  the  bosoms  of  piety  and  inno-  >  the  streets  in  derision,  by  several  boys  who  \ 
cence.  The  lamentations  of  distress,  the  >  were  ordered  so  to  do  by  their  popish  j 
shrieks  of  terror,  and  the   groans  of  the  >  tutors. 

dying,  were  music  to  the  ears  of  the  furi-  \  A  pious  young  gentleman  was  killed  with  > 
ous  murderers  :  they  enjoyed  the  horrors  \  battle-axes  in  his  study ;  two  ministers  > 
of  slaughter,  and  triumphed  over  the  man-  \  were  stabbed,  and  thrown  into  the  river ;  \ 
gled  carcasses  of  those  whom  they  had  \  and  several  of  the  assassins,  breaking  into  j 
butchered.  \  the   house  of  a  jeweller,  they  found   the  | 

Upon  this  dreadful  occasion,  swords,  /  midwife  with  his  wife,  who  was  in  labor.  \ 
pistols,  muskets,  cutlasses,  daggers,  and  \  Having  murdered  the  jeweller,  they  were  j 
other  instruments  of  death,  had  been  put  \  proceeding  to  kill  the  wife,  when  the  mid- 
into  the  hands  of  above  sixty  thousand  >  wife  kneeled  before  them,  and  entreated  \ 
furious  and  bigoted  papists,  who  now,  in  a  <  permission  to  deliver  the  woman  ;  "  for  \ 
frantic  manner,  ran  up  and  down  the  streets  j  this  will  be  the  twentieth  child  she  has  \ 
of  Paris,  uttering  the  most  horrid  blasphe-  \  borne."  The  inhuman  brutes,  however,  ! 
mies,  and  committing  the  most  inhuman  ]  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  her  entreaties,  spurn-  j 
barbarities.  It  is  almost  beyond  the  power  I  ed  the  midwife  from  them,  stabbed  the  \ 
of  imagination  to  paint,  or  of  language  to  woman,  and  threw  her  out  of  the  window.  \ 
describe,  the  cruelties  that  were  acted  on  \  The  fall  forced  the  child  from  the  womb,  \ 
that  fatal  night,  and  the  two  succeeding  who  lay  crying  for  some  time,  and  then 
days.  The  infirm  were  murdered  in  the  \  perished  in  the  street  for  want  of  proper  . 
bed  of  sickness  ;  the  aged  stabbed  while  \  care. 

tottering  on  their  crutches  ;  children  snatch-  \  Some  soldiers  entering  the  house  of  a  \ 
ed  from  their  mothers,  and  tossed  on  the  s  doctor  of  civil  law,  demanded  a  sight  of  his  f 
points  of  spears  ;  infants  strangled  in  their  I  library.  With  this  he  complied,  when  j 
cradles  ;  pregnant  women  ripped  open,  and  finding  some  protestant  books,  they  took  \ 
men  indiscriminately  murdered  by  various  I  him  into  the  street,  and  beat  his  brains  out  \ 
means.  The  confusion  and  horrors  of  the  j  with  a  club.  A  cook,  who  had  hid  him-  j 
scene  were  dreadful  indeed  ;  oaths,  shout-  I  self  on  the  first  alarm,  being  pressed  by  | 
ings,  shrieks,  and  the  discharge  of  firearms,  I  thirst,  came  from  his  lurking-place  to  pro-  I 

|  were   heard  in  all  quarters ;  houses  were  I  cure  food,  but  was  immediately  murdered  ;  s 
defiled  with  the  blood  of  their  owners  ;  the  I  and  an  apothecary,  who  was  carrying  some  > 

/  streets    strewed    with    carcases  ;   and    the  I  medicines  to  a  patient,  met  with  the  same  I 

)  waters  of  the  Seine  appeared  of  a  crimson  s  fate. 

^  color,  from  the  number  of  mangled  bodies  I      Three  hundred  and  fifty  protestants  were  \ 

|  which  had  been  thrown  into  that  river.         s  confined  in  a  place  called  the  archbishop's  £ 

Several  ruffians   entered  the  house  of  I  prison.     To  this  place  a  number  of  sol-  > 

Monsieur   De  la   Place,  president   of  the  I  diers  repaired,  picked  their  pockets  of  what  > 

j  court  of  requests,  and  having  plundered  it  \  money  they  had,  took  from  them  such  gar-  ) 

I  of  above  a  thousand  crowns,  they  took  that  \  ments  as  they  thought  proper  to  appropri- 


Jp^j~>/>^>»,V>fc/WV\ 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


99 


ate '  to  their  own  uses,  and  then  drawing 
their  swords,  cut  them  to  pieces  without 
the  least  remorse. 

A  protestant  merchant,  named  Francis 
Bassu,  expecting  to  share  the  fate  of  other 
protestants,  thus  addressed  his  two  sons : 
"  Children,  be  not  terrified  at  what  may 
happen  :  it  is  the  portion  of  true  believers 
to  be  hated  and  persecuted  by  unbelievers, 
as  sheep  are  devoured  by  wolves.  But 
remember,  that  if  we  suffer  for  Christ,  we 
shall  reign  with  him :  therefore  let  not 
drawn  swords  terrify  you,  they  will  be  but 
a  bridge  over  which  to  pass  to  eternal  life." 
He  had  scarce  uttered  these  words,  when 
the  murderers  broke  in,  and  cut  to  pieces 
the  father  and  both  his  sons. 

After  the  massacre  had  subsided,  the  in- 
human assassins  paraded  the  streets,  boast- 
ing that  they  had  dyed  their  white  cock- 
ades red  with  the  blood  of  huguenots.  On 
seeing  a  multitude  of  dead  bodies  lay  about, 
a  papist  apothecary  suggested  that  money 
might  be  made  of  the  fat  contained  in  them  ; 
the  plumpest  bodies  were  accordingly  se- 
lected, and  the  grease  being  extracted  from 
them,  was  sold  for  three  shillings  per 
pound :  a  shocking  instance  of  the  most 
depraved  cruelty  !  The  inhabitants  of  the 
villages  which  lay  below  Paris,  on  the 
borders  of  the  Seine,  were  astonished  to 
see  the  number  of  dead  bodies  that  floated 
down  the  stream,  and  even  some  of  the 
Roman  catholics  were  so  much  touched 
with  compassion,  as  to  exclaim,  "  It  surely 
could  not  be  men,  but  devils  in  their 
appearance,  who  have  transacted  these 
cruelties."  The  pope's  legate,  soon  after, 
gave  all  who  were  concerned  in  these 
murders  a  general  absolution,  which  plainly 
evinces  that  the  Roman  catholics  them- 
selves thought  these  transactions  criminal. 

The  king  of  France  gave  a  formal  ac- 
count to  the  king  of  Navarre,  and  the 
prince  of  Conde,  of  the  whole  affair,  and 
told  them,  at  the  same  time,  he  "  expected 
they  should  renounce  their  religion,  as  he 
had  saved  their  lives  with  that  expectation 
only."      The    king   of  Navarre    only    an- 


swered, "  I  beg  you  will  recollect  our  late 
alliance,  and  not  think  of  forcing  my  con- 
science ;"  but  the  prince  of  Conde,  with 
more  spirit,  replied,  "  You  may  seize  my 
estates,  property,  and  life,  but  my  religion 
is  out  of  your  power."  This  answer  so 
much  enraged  the  king,  that  he  fell  into  a 
vehement  passion,  and  threatened  him  vio- 
lently ;  but  becoming  cool  again,  he  thought 
proper  to  let  his  anger  subside,  and  suf- 
fered his  resentment  to  give  way  to  policy. 

Occurrences  supplementary  to  the  Massacre 
of  Paris. 

It  was  represented  to  the  king  by  his 
council,  that  the  massacre  would  be  in- 
effectual, if  it  did  not  extend  to  every  part 
of  the  kingdom  ;  for  though  all  the  protes- 
tants of  Paris  were  murdered,  yet  if  any 
were  suffered  to  live  in  other  parts  of 
France,  they  would  again  increase  in  num- 
\  bers,  and  spread  to  the  metropolis.     This 

<  occasioned  the  massacre  to  become  more 

<  general,  for  the  king  sent  orders  to  all 
parts  of  the  nation  to  put  the  protestants  to 
death. 

At  Meaux,  the  king's  attorney,  Cosset, 
having  received  the  bloody  mandate,  or- 
dered a  number  of  ruffians  to  attend  him  at 
seven  o'clock  in  the  evening.  At  the  ap- 
pointed time,  he  commanded  the  city  gates 
to  be  shut,  and  all  the  protestants  seized. 
This  was  immediately  executed ;  many 
were  murdered  that  night,  and  about  two 
hundred  of  the  principal  persons  were  con- 
fined till  the  next  day.  On  the  ensuing 
morning,  Cosset,  and  his  murderers,  went 
to  the  prison,  and  having  a  list  of  the  prot- 
estant's  names,  called  them  one  by  one, 
and  murdered  them  as  they  answered  to 
the  call.  They  then  plundered  the  houses 
of  those  they  had  murdered,  divided  the 
spoils,  gave  an  entertainment  upon  the  oc- 
casion, and  concluded  the  evening  with 
illuminations. 

At  Troyes  the  protestants  were  all  seized, 
and  put  into  dungeons.  The  provost  then 
commanded  the  common  executioner  to  go 


8 


100 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


and  murder  them  all.  Shocked,  however, 
at  the  inhumanity  of  the  thing,  the  execu- 
tioner had  spirit  enough  to  refuse,  with 
this  remarkable  expression :  "  My  office 
obliges  me  to  execute  none  but  such  as  are 
legally  condemned."  But  this  did  not  save 
the  protestants,  for  the  provost  engaged  the 
jailer  to  perform  what  the  executioner  had 
refused.  They  were  all  accordingly  mur- 
dered, and  their  bodies  buried  in  pits,  dug 
on  purpose,  within  the  prison.  While  the 
bloody  tragedy  was  performing,  one  of  the 
ruffians  struck  at  a  protestant  two  or  three 
times  without  killing  him  :  the  protestant 
then  taking  hold  of  the  point  of  the  halberd, 
with  which  he  had  been  wounded,  placed 
it  close  to  the  left  side  of  his  breast,  and 
then  boldly  cried,  "  Push  it  to  my  heart, 
fellow,  push  it  to  my  heart.'''' 

At  Orleans,  the  massacre  continued  for 
a  week,  and  a  prodigious  number  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  were  murdered  ;  the 
general  cry  being,  "  Kill  the  huguenots  and 
take  the  spoil.'"  Some,  who  were  weak 
enough  to  apostatize  from  their  faith  to 
save  their  lives,  had  weapons  put  into  their 
hands,  and  were  compelled  to  kill  those  of 
the  religion  they  had  forsaken,  or  to  be 
murdered  themselves  ;  the  Roman  catholics 
crying,  in  derision,  all  the  time,  "  Smite 
''em,  smite  'em,  were  they  not  your  holy 
brothers  and  sisters  ?" 

At  Lyons,  all  the  protestants  houses 
were  plundered,  and  the  slaughter  almost 
incredible  ;  at  Rouen,  six  thousand  were 
massacred ;  at  Thoulouse,  about  three  hun- 
dred were  martyred  upon  the  occasion ; 
many  were  drowned  at  Angiers,  and  seve- 
ral were  butchered  at  Bordeaux ;  though 
happily,  at  the  latter  place,  several  got 
expeditiously  on  board  a  ship,  and  escaped 
to  England. 

A  curious  corroboration  of  the  foregoing 
account  of  the  Parisian  massacre,  and 
the  murders  which  immediately  ensued  in 
several  parts  of  France. 

As  the  following  narrative  is  extremely 
interesting  in  itself,  and  as  it  was  written 


by  a  learned  and  sensible  Roman  catholic, 
we  presume  it  will  appear,  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  this  chapter,  with  peculiar  pro- 
priety :  — 

"  The  nuptials  of  the  young  king  of  Na- 
varre with  the  French  king's  sister,  were 
solemnized  with  pomp  ;  and  all  the  endear- 
ments, all  the  assurances  of  friendship,  all 
the   oaths  sacred  among  men,  were   pro- 
fusely lavished    by  Catharine,  the  queen- 
mother,  and  by  the  king  ;  during  which,  the 
rest  of  the  court  thought  of  nothing  but 
festivities,    plays,    and    masquerades.      At 
last,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night,  on  the  eve 
of  St.  Bartholomew,  the  signal  was  given. 
Immediately  all  the  houses  of  the  protes- 
tants were  forced  open  at  once.     Admiral 
Coligni,    alarmed   by   the   uproar,  jumped  I 
out  of  bed  ;  when  a  company  of  assassins  \ 
rushed    into    his    chamber.      They    were  { 
headed  by  one  Besme,  who  had  been  bred  / 
up    as    a    domestic    in    the   family  of  the  > 
Guises.     This  wretch  thrust  his  sword  into  '; 
the  admiral's   breast,  and   also  cut   him  in  \ 
the    face.      Besme    was    a    German,    and  \ 
being  afterward  taken   by  the  protestants,  \ 
the  Rochellers  would  have  bought  him,  in  J 
order  to  hang  and  quarter  him  ;  but  he  was  ^ 
killed    by    one    Bretanville.      Henry,    the 
young  duke  of  Guise,  who  afterward  framed 
the  catholic  league,  and  was  murdered  at 
Blois,  standing  at  the  door  till   the   horrid 
butchery  should  be  completed,  called  aloud, 
"  Besme  !  is  it  done  ?"     Immediately  after 
which  the   ruffians  threw  the  body  out  of 
the  window,  and  Coligni  expired  at  Guise's 
feet. 

Count  de  Teligny  also  fell  a  sacrifice. 
He  had  married,  about  ten  months  before, 
Coligni's  daughter.  His  countenance  was 
so  engaging,  that  the  ruffians,  when  they 
advanced  in  order  to  kill  him,  were  struck 
with  compassion  ;  but  others,  more  barba- 
rous, rushing  forward,  murdered  him. 

In  the  meantime,  all  the  friends  of  Co- 
ligni were  assassinated  throughout  Paris  : 
men,  women,  and  children,  were  promis- 
cuously slaughtered  ;  every  street  was 
strewed    with    expiring    bodies.      Some 

•  SI 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


101 


& 


priests,  holding  up  a  crucifix  in  one  hand, 
and  a  dagger  in  the  other,  ran  to  the  chiefs 
of  the  murderers,  and  strongly  exhorted 
them  to  spare  neither  relations  nor  friends. 

Tavannes,  marshal  of  France,  an  igno- 
rant, superstitious  soldier,  who  joined  the 
fury  of  religion  to  the  rage  of  party,  rode  on 
horseback  through  the  streets  of  Paris,  cry- 
ing to  his  men, "  Let  blood !  let  blood !  Bleed- 
ing is  as  wholesome  in  August  as  in  May." 
In  the  memoirs  of  the  life  of  this  enthusias- 
tic, written  by  his  son,  we  are  told,  that 
the  father  being  on  his  deathbed,  and  ma- 
king a  general  confession  of  his  actions, 
the  priest  said  to  him,  with  surprise, 
"  What  !  no  mention  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
massacre  ?"  To  which  Tavannes  replied, 
"  I  consider  it  as  a  meritorious  action,  that 
will  wash  away  all  my  sins."  Such  horrid 
sentiments  can  a  false  spirit  of  religion 
inspire  ! 

The  king's  palace  was  one  of  the  chief 
scenes  of  the  butchery  :  the  king  of  Na- 
varre had  his  lodging  in  the  Louvre,  and  all 
his  domestics  were  protestants.  Many  of 
these  were  killed  in  bed  with  their  wives  ; 
others,  running  away  naked,  were  pursued 
by  the  soldiers  through  the  several  rooms 
of  the  palace,  even  to  the  king's  ante-cham- 
ber. The  young  wife  of  Henry  of  Na- 
varre, awaked  by  the  dreadful  uproar,  being 
afraid  for  her  consort,  and  for  her  own  life, 
seized  with  horror,  and  half  dead,  flew  from 
her  bed,  in  order  to  throw  herself  at  the 
feet  of  the  king  her  brother.  But  scarce 
had  she  opened  her  chamber-door,  when 
some  of  her  protestant  domestics  rushed 
in  for  refuge.  The  soldiers  immediately 
followed,  pursued  them  in  sight  of  the 
princess,  and  killed  one  who  had  crept 
under  her  bed.  Two  others,  being  wound- 
ed with  halberds,  fell  at  the  queen's  feet, 
so  that  she  was  covered  with  blood. 

Count  de  la  Rochefaucault,  a  young  no- 
bleman, greatly  in  the  king's  favor  for  his 
comely  air,  his  politeness,  and  a  certain 
peculiar  happiness  in  the  turn  of  his  con- 
versation, had  spent  the  evening  till  eleven 
o'clock  with  the  monarch,  in  pleasant  fa- 


miliarity;  and  had  given  a  loose,  with  the  \ 
utmost  mirth,  to  the  sallies  of  his  imagina-  < 
tion.  The  monarch  felt  some  remorse ;  ; 
and  being  touched  with  a  kind  of  compas-  \ 
sion,  hid  him,  two  or  three  times,  not  go  ' 
home,  but  lie  in  the  Louvre.  The  count  ; 
said  he  must  go  to  his  wife  ;  upon  which  j 
the  king  pressed  him  no  further,  but  said,  j 
"  Let  him  go !  I  see  God  has  decreed  his 
death."  And  in  two  hours  after  he  was  > 
murdered. 

Very  few  of  the  protestants  escaped  ', 
the  fury  of  their  enthusiastic  persecutors.  \ 
Among  these  was  young  la  Force  (after-  \ 
ward  the  famous  marshal  de  la  Force),  a  \ 
child  about  ten  years  of  age,  whose  de-  I 
liverance  was  exceedingly  remarkable.  / 
His  father,  his  elder  brother,  and  himself,  < 
were  seized  together  by  the  duke  of  Anjou's  J 
soldiers.  These  murderers  flew  at  all  three,  \ 
and  struck  at  them  at  random,  when  they  \ 
all  fell,  and  lay  one  upon  another.  The  I 
youngest  did  not  receive  a  single  blow,  but  > 
appearing  as  if  he  was  dead,  escaped  the  \ 
next  day ;  and  his  life,  thus  wonderfully  \ 
preserved,  lasted  fourscore  and  five  years.  > 

Many  of  the  wretched  victims  fled  to  the  \ 
water-side,  and  some  swam  over  the  Seine  i 
to  the  suburbs  of  St.  Germains.     The  mon- 
arch  saw  them   from  his  window,   which  < 
looked  upon  the  river,  and  fired  upon  them 
with  a  carbine  that  had  been  loaded  for  that  / 
purpose   by  one   of  his   pages  :  while  the  \ 
queen-mother,  undisturbed  and   serene  in 
the  midst  of  slaughter,  looking  down  from  i 
a  balcony,  encouraged  the  murderers,  and  \ 
laughed  at  the  dying  groans  of  the  slaugh-  \ 
tered.     This    barbarous    queen   was    fired  | 
with   a   restless    ambition,    and    she    per-  <' 
petually  shifted  her  party  in  order  to  satiate  \ 
it.     She  was  accused  of  a  loose  commerce  \ 
with    certain    gentlemen ;  and    was   weak  \ 
enough  to  believe   in  magic,  as  appeared 
from  the  talismans  found  after  her  death. 

Some  days  after  this  horrid  transaction,  \ 
the  French  court  endeavored  to  palliate  it  ) 
by  forms  of  law.  They  pretended  to  justify  \ 
the  massacre  by  a  calumny ;  and  accused  j 
the  admiral  of  a  conspiracy,  which  no  one  \ 


r~ 


102 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


*■ 


believed.     The  parliament  was  commanded  £ 
to  proceed  against  the  memory  of  Coligni :  < 
and  his  dead  body  was  hung  in  chains  on  < 
Montfaucon    gallows.     The  king   himself 
went   to    view    this    shocking    spectacle ; 
when  one  of  his  courtiers  advising  him  to 
retire,  and  complaining  of  the  stench  of  the 
corpse,  he  replied,  "  A  dead  enemy  smells 
well."     The    massacres   on   St.  Bartholo- 
mew's day  are  painted  in  the  royal  saloon  I 
of  the  Vatican  at  Rome,  with  the  following 
inscription  :   "  Pontifex  Colignii  necem  pro- 
bat"  i.  e.,  "  The  pope  approves  of  Coligni's 
death." 

The  young  king  of  Navarre  was  spared 
through  policy,  rather  than  from  the  pity 
of  the  queen-mother,  she  keeping  him 
prisoner  till  the  king's  death,  in  order  that 
he  might  be  as  a  security  and  pledge  for 
the  submission  of  such  protestants  as  might 
effect  their  escape. 

This  horrid  butchery  was  not  confined 
merely  to   the    city  of  Paris.     The   like  \ 
orders  were  issued  from  court  to  the  gov-  \ 
ernors  of  all  the  provinces  in  France  ;  so  { 
that,  in  a  week's  time,  above  one  hundred 
thousand  protestants  were  cut  to  pieces  in 
different  parts  of  the  kingdom.     Two  or 


three  governors  only  refused  to  obey  the 
king's  orders.  One  of  these,  named  Mont- 
morrin,  governor  of  Auvergne,  wrote  the 
king  the  following  letter,  which  deserves 
to  be  transmitted  to  latest  posterity : — 

"  Sir  :  I  have  received  an  order  under 
your  majesty's  seal,  to  put  to  death  all  the 
protestants  in  my  province.  I  have  loo 
much  respect  for  your  majesty,  not  to  be- 
lieve the  letter  a  forgery  :  but  if  (which 
God  forbid)  the  order  should  be  genuine, 
I  have  too  much  respect  for  your  majesty 
to  obey  it." 

These  barbarities  inflamed  such  protes- 
tants as  escaped  rather  with  rage  than 
terror :  their  irreconcilable  hatred  to  the 
court  supplied  them  with  fresh  vigor,  and 
the  spirit  of  revenge  increased  their 
strength.  The  king,  under  whose  influ- 
ence this  dreadful  havoc  had  been  com- 
mitted, never  enjoyed  his  health  after,  but 
died  in  about  two  years,  his  blood  gushing 
daily  through  the  pores  of  his  skin  ;  so 
that  he  expired,  as  it  were,  weltering  in 
his  own  gore. 

"  Fear  haunts  the  guilty  mind  with  horrid  views, 
And  Providence  the  murderer  pursues: 
Those  by  whose  means  the  innocent  are  slain, 
Shall  live  detested  and  expire  in  pain." 


THE  SIEGE  OF  SANCERRE. 


ANCERRE,  a  city  chiefly 
inhabited  by  protestants, 
was  besieged  A.  D.  1573, 
by  the  lord  of  Chartres, 
with  a  considerable  army. 
He  planted  his  cannon 
judiciously,  and  played  incessantly  on  the 
place  ;  so  that  more  were  wounded  by  the 
fragments  of  stones,  and  splinters  of  timber, 
broken  by  means  of  the  artillery,  than  by 
the  balls  themselves. 

Besides  cannonading  the  place  almost 
continually,  the  lord  of  Chartres  frequently 
gave  furious  assaults,  in  order  to  take  it  by 


storm  ;  but  was  as  often  repulsed,  with 
loss,  by  the  besieged.  The  conflict  was 
dreadful,  and  each  side  appeared  resolved 
in  their  several  purposes  ;  the  one  to  suc- 
ceed in  compelling  the  city  to  surrender  ; 
the  other  in  defending  it  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity ;  which  brings  to  our  recollection 
the  following  admirable  lines,  descriptive 
of  the  horrors  of  a  siege  : — 

"  See  round  the  walls  a  steely  circle  stands 
In  deep  array,  and  spreads  in  radiant  bands. 
Hark  !  the  shrill  trumpet  sends  a  mortal  sound, 
And  prancing  horses  shake  the  solid  ground  ; 
The  surly  drums  beat  terrible  from  afar, 
With  all  the  dreadful  music  of  the  war  : 
From  the  drawn  swords  effulgent  flames  arise, 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


103 


Flash  o'er  the  plains,  and  lighten  to  the  skies. 
The  heavens  above,  the  fields  and  floods  beneath, 
Glare  formidably  bright,  and  shine  with  death: 
In  fiery  storms  descends  a  murd'rous  shower, 
Thick  flash  the  lightnings,  fierce  the  thunders  roar ; 
Swift  rush  the  balls  with  many  a  fiery  round, 
Tear  the  huge  stones,  or  rend  the  steadfast  mound ; 
Death  shakes  aloft  her  dart,  and  over  her  prey 
Gigantic  stalking,  marks  in  blood  her  way." 

The  want  of  provisions  seemed  to 
threaten  what  the  arms  of  the  besiegers 
could  not  perform  ;  the  long  continuance 
of  the  siege  had  caused  a  great  scarcity  of 
the  necessaries  of  life,  and  the  bravest  of 
the  besieged  began  to  fear  they  must  either 
give  up  the  place,  or  fall  victims  to  famine. 
So  great,  indeed,  were  the  distresses  of 
the  people,  that  the  flesh  of  horses,  mules, 
and  asses,  was  purchased  at  a  great  price  ; 
and  many  were  compelled  to  live  only  upon 
the  flesh  of  dogs,  cats,  mice,  moles,  &c. 
Even  these  disagreeable  resources  at 
length  failed,  and  the  severity  of  hunger 
forced  them  to  put  up  with  leather,  parch- 
ment, beasts'  hoofs,  and  horns  stewed  down 
to  a  jelly,  or  boiled  sufficiently  soft  to  be 
swallowed.  The  wild  roots  in  the  few 
gardens  of  the  city,  the  grass  and  house- 
leek  which  grew  on  the  tops  of  houses, 
walls,  and  sheds,  were  sought  for  with 
avidity,  and  devoured  as  delicacies.  The 
substitutes  for  bread  were  dried  herbs  and 
bran,  straw-meal,  powdered  nut-shells,  and 
even  pounded  states,  made  into  cakes  with 
grease. 

During  this  extremity,  a  poor  man  and 
his  wife  were  apprehended,  for  having 
eaten  a  part  of  their  own  daughter,  a  child 
of  three  years  old,  who  died  of  hunger  : 
they  had  already  devoured  the  head  and 
entrails,  and  when  taken  were  dressing 
some  of  the  limbs.  In  their  excuse  they 
pleaded  the  horrid  severity  of  the  hunger 
with  which  they  were  tormented,  and  that 
they  had  not  murdered  the  child  :  it  was, 
however,  proved  against  them,  that  on  the 
very  day  when  they  began  to  eat  their  off- 
spring, some  humane  person  had  charitably 
sent  to  their  house  a  mess  of  pottage,  made 
with  herbs,  and  some  wine,  which  might 
have  enabled  them  to  refrain,  at  least 
another  day,  from  the  unnatural  meal.    The 


governor,  therefore,  to  make  an  example 
which  might  deter  others  from  practisino- 
anything  so  atrocious,  ordered  them  to  be 
hanged.  Their  fate,  however,  drew  com- 
passion from  many,  who,  from  what  them- 
selves felt,  and  considering  the  desperate 
circumstances  of  the  persons,  could  not 
help  sympathizing  with  the  criminals, 
though  they  abhorred  their  crimes. 

A  laboring  man  and  his  wife,  who  had  a 
little  vineyard  within  the  city  walls,  and 
who  had  fed  themselves,  for  some  time, 
with  the  leaves  and  branches  of  the  vines, 
were  found  dead,  and  two  young  children 
crying  by  them.  The  children,  however, 
were  taken  by  a  charitable  widow,  and 
sustained  with  as  much  care  as  the  present 
circumstances  would  permit.  Several  others 
were  found  dead  in  their  houses  ;  many 
dropped  down  in  the  streets  ;  the  sorrow- 
ful lamentations  of  the  living  for  the  dead 
were  equally  mingled  with  the  cries  of 
hunger,  and,  in  conjunction,  formed  the 
most  doleful  sounds  of  horror. 

A  boy  dropping  down,  through  weak- 
ness, at  the  feet  of  his  father  and  mother, 
they  bitterly  lamented  over  him  ;  when  he 
heroically  said :  "  Don't  weep  to  see  me 
die  with  hunger ;  I  do  not  ask  you  for 
food  ;  I  know  you  have  none  to  give  me  : 
it  is  the  will  of  God  I  should  die,  and 
therefore  I  cheerfully  submit."  He  expired 
the  moment  he  had  uttered  these  words, 
leaving  his  parents  astonished  at  his  forti- 
tude, and  happy  in  his  religious  resignation. 

Several  soldiers  and  citizens,  rather  than 
stay  and  be  starved,  chose  to  escape  from 
the  place,  and  run  all  hazards  :  some  were 
immediately  killed  in  the  attempt,  and  the 
rest  put  into  prison,  tried  as  traitors,  and 
afterward  executed. 

The  king  of  France  was  so  much  exas- 
perated at  the  long  and  valiant  defence  of 
the  besieged,  that  he  sent  word  to  his 
general,  the  lord  of  Chartres,  if  he  took  the 
place,  to  massacre  all  within  it ;  and  if  he 
could  not,  to  block  them  up  till  they  devoured 
each  other.  But  the  full  completion  of  this 
cruel  order  was  providentially  defeated,  by 


£ 


104 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


]  the  following  circumstance :  there  being 
t  an  election  for  a  king  of  Poland,  the  duke 
of  Anjou,  brother  to  the  king  of  France, 
was  elected,  upon  condition  that  the  king 
of  France  should  cease  the  persecution 
against  his  protestant  subjects  :  these  con- 
ditions were,  for  political  reasons,  complied 
with  ;  and  Sancerre,  among  other  places, 
had  immediate  relief.  Eighty-four  persons 
were  killed  during  the  siege ;  near  six 
hundred  perished  by  famine  ;  and  several 
were  so   emaciated  from  the  same  cause, 


'{ that  they  died  soon  after  the  siege  was 
}  raised.  Thus,  when  we  deem  ourselves 
£  at  the  very  last  extremity,  are  we  some- 
/  times  suddenly  relieved  by  the  most  un- 
^  expected  means :  so  inscrutable  are  the 
J  ways  of  that  Providence,. on  which,  in  all 
i  emergencies,  we  ought  to  depend. 

I  "  Heaven  is  our  guard,  and  innocence  its  care, 
'i       Nor  need  the  good  the  worst  of  dangers  (car  ; 
\       It  pities  the  defenceless,  poor  man's  grief, 
'/       And  sends  him,  when  he  calls,  help  and  relief; 
<       It  arms  the  surest  succor,  and  the  best 
j       Delivers,  and  revenges  the  distressed." 


PERSECUTIONS  OF  THE  WALDENSES  IN  THE  VALLEYS  OF  PIEDMONT. 


ANY  of  the  Wal- 
denses,  to  avoid 
the  persecutions  to 
which  they  were 
continually  sub- 
jected in  France, 
went  and  settled  in  the  valleys  of  Piedmont, 
where  they  increased  exceedingly,  and 
flourished  very  much  for  a  considerable 
time.  Though  they  were  harmless  in  their 
behavior,  inoffensive  in  their  conversation, 
and  paid  tithes  to  the  Romish  clergy,  yet 
the  latter  could  not  be  contented,  but  wish- 
ed to  give  them  some  disturbance  :  they 
accordingly  complained  to  the  archbishop 
of  Turin,  that  the  Waldenses  of  the  valleys 
of  Piedmont  were  heretics,  for  these  rea- 
sons : — 

1.  That  they  did  not  believe  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  church  of  Rome. 

2.  That  they  made  no  offerings  for 
prayers  for  the  dead. 

3.  That  they  did  not  go  to  mass. 

4.  That  they  did  not  confess  and  receive 
absolution. 

5.  That  they  did  not  believe  in  purga- 
tory, or  pay  money  to  get  the  souls  of  their 
friends  out  of  it. 

Upon  these  charges  the  archbishop  or- 
dered a  persecution  to  be  commenced,  and 


thousands  fell  martyrs  to  the  superstitious 
rage  of  the  priests  and  monks. 

At  Turin,  one  of  the  reformed  had  his 
bowels  torn  out,  and  put  into  a  basin  be- 
fore  his  face,  where  they  remained,  in  his  S 
view,  till   he  expired.     At  Revel,  Catelin 
Girard  being  at  the  stake,  desired  the  ex- 
ecutioner  to  give  him  up  a  stone  ;  which 
he    refused,   thinking    that   he   meant    to 
throw  it  at  somebody ;  but  Girard  assuring 
him  that  he  had  no  such  design,  the  execu-  " 
tioner    complied ;    when    Girard    looking  , 
earnestly  at  the  stone,  said :  "  When  it  is  > 
in  the  power  of  a  man  to  eat  and  digest 
thia  solid  stone,  the  religion  for  which  I  am  < 
about  to  suffer  shall  have  an  end,  and  not  j 
before."     He  then  threw  the  stone  on  the  \ 
ground,  and  submitted   cheerfully  to   the  I 
flames.     A  great  many  more   of  the   re-  < 
formed  were  oppressed,  or  put  to  death  by 
various  means,  till  the  patience  of  the  Wal- 
denses  being  tired  out,  they  flew  to  arms 
in  their  own  defence,  and  formed  them- 
selves into  regular  bodies. 

Exasperated  at  this,  the  archbishop  of 
Turin  procured  a  number  of  troops,  and 
sent  against  them  ;  but  in  most  of  the  skir- 
mishes and  engagements  the  Waldenses 
were  successful,  which  partly  arose  from 
their    being    better    acquainted    with   the 


*c 


MASSACRE    OF   THE   WALDENSES    IN    THE    VALLEYS    OF    PIEDMONT. — Paje   105. 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


107 


passes  of  the  valleys  of  Piedmont  than 
their  adversaries,  and  partly  from  the  des- 
peration with  which  they  fought ;  for  they 
knew,  if  they  were  taken,  they  should  not 
be  considered  as  prisoners  of  war,  but 
should  be  tortured  to  death  as  heretics. 

At  length,  Philip,  the  seventh  duke  of 
Savoy,  and  supreme  lord  of  Piedmont,  de- 
termined to  interpose  his  authority,  and 
stop  these  bloody  wars,  which  so  greatly 
disturbed  his  dominions.  He  was  not  wil- 
ling to  disoblige  the  pope,  or  affront  the 
archbishop  of  Turin  ;  nevertheless,  he  sent 
them  both  messages,  importing,  that  he 
could  not  any  longer  tamely  see  his  do- 
minions overrun  with  troops,  who  were 
directed  by  priests  instead  of  officers,  and 
commanded  by  prelates  in  the  place  of 
generals  ;  nor  would  he  suffer  his  country 
to  be  depopulated,  while  he  himself  had 
not  been  even  consulted  upon  the  occasion. 

The  priests,  finding  the  resolution  of  the 
duke,  did  all  they  could  to  prejudice  his 
mind  against  the  Waldenses  ;  but  the  duke 
told  them,  that  though  he  was  unacquainted 
with  the  religious  tenets  of  these  people, 
yet  he  had  always  found  them  quiet,  faith- 
ful, and  obedient,  and  therefore  he  was 
determined  they  should  be  no  longer  per- 
secuted. 

The  priests  now  had  recourse  to  the 
most  palpable  and  absurd  falsehoods  :  they 
assured  the  duke  that  he  was  mistaken  in 
the  Waldenses,  for  that  they  were  a  very 
wicked  set  of  people,  aad  highly  addicted 
to  intemperance,  uncleanness,  blasphemy, 
adultery,  incest,  and  many  other  abomina- 
ble crimes  ;  that  they  were  even  monsters 
in  nature,  for  their  children  were  born  with 
black  throats,  with  four  rows  of  teeth,  and 
bodies  all  over  hairy. 

The  duke  was  not  so  devoid  of  common 
sense  as  to  give  credit  to  what  the  priests 
siid,  though  they  affirmed,  in  the  most 
solemn  manner,  the  truth  of  their  asser- 
tions. He,  however,  sent  twelve  very 
learned  and  sensible  gentlemen  into  the 
Piedmontese  valleys,  to  examine  into  the 
real  characters  of  the  inhabitants. 


These  gentlemen,  after  travelling  through 
all  their  towns  and  villages,  and  conversing 
with  people  of  every  rank  among  the  Wal- 
denses, returned  to  the  duke,  and  gave  him 
the  most  favorable  account  of  those  people  ; 
affirming,  before  the  faces  of  the  priests 
who  vilified  them,  that  they  were  harm- 
less, inoffensive,  loyal,  friendly,  industrious, 
and  pious  :  that  they  abhorred  the  crimes 
of  which  they  were  accused  ;  and  that, 
should  an  individual,  through  his  depravity, 
fall  into  any  of  those  crimes,  he  would,  by 
their  laws,  be  punished  in  the  most  exem- 
plary manner.  With  respect  to  the  chil- 
dren, the  gentlemen  said,  the  priests  had 
told  the  most  gross  and  ridiculous  falsities, 
for  they  were  neither  born  with  black 
throats,  teeth  in  their  mouths,  or  hair  on 
their  bodies,  but  were  as  fine  children  as 
could  be  seen.  "  And  to  convince  your 
highness  of  what  we  have  said,"  continued 
one  of  the  gentlemen,  "  we  have  brought 
twelve  of  the  principal  male  inhabitants, 
who  have  come  to  ask  pardon  in  the  name 
of  the  rest,  for  having  taken  up  arms  with- 
out your  leave,  though  even  in  their  own 
defence,  and  to  preserve  their  lives  from 
their  merciless  enemies.  And  we  have 
likewise  brought  several  women,  with  chil- 
dren of  various  ages,  that  your  highness 
may  have  an  opportunity  of  personally  ex- 
amining them  as  much  as  you  please." 

The  duke,  after  accepting  the  apology 
of  the  twelve  delegates,  conversing  with 
the  women,  and  examining  the  children, 
graciously  dismissed  them.  He  then  com- 
manded the  priests,  who  had  attempted  to 
mislead  him,  immediately  to  leave  the 
court ;  and  gave  strict  orders,  that  the  per- 
secution should  cease  throughout  his  do- 
minions. 

The  Waldenses  had  enjoyed  peace  many 
years,  when  Philip,  the  seventh  duke  of 
Savoy,  died,  and  his  successor  happened 
to  be  a  very  bigoted  papist.  About  the 
same  time,  some  of  the  principal  Walden- 
ses proposed  that  their  clergy  should  preach 
in  public,  that  every  one  might  know  the 
;  purity  of  their  doctrines  ;  for  hitherto  they 


108 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


had  preached  only  in  private,  and  to  such 
congregations  as  they  well  knew  to  con- 
sist of  none  but  persons  of  the  reformed 
religion. 

On  hearing  these  proceedings,  the  new 
duke  was  greatly  exasperated,  and  sent  a 
considerable  body  of  troops  into  the  valleys, 
swearing,   that   if  the    people   would    not 

>  change  their  religion,  he  would  have  them 
flayed  alive.  The  commander  of  the  troops 
soon  found  the  impracticability  of  conquer- 
ing them  with  the  number  of  men  he  had 
with  him  ;  he  therefore  sent  word  to  the 
duke,  that  the  idea  of  subjugating  the  Wal- 
denses,  with  so  small  a  force,  was  ridicu- 
lous ;  that  those  people  were  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  country  than  any  that 
were  with  him  ;  that  they  had  secured  all 
the  passes,  were  well  armed,  and  resolutely 
determined  to  defend  themselves ;  and, 
with  respect  to  flaying  them  alive,  he  said 
that  every  skin  belonging  to  those  people, 
would  cost  him  the  lives  of  a  dozen  of  his 
subjects. 

Terrified  at  this  information,  the  duke 
withdrew  the  troops,  determining  to  act 
not  by  force,  but  by  stratagem.  He  there- 
fore ordered  rewards  for  the  taking  of  any 
of  the  Waldenses,  who  might  be  found 
straying  from  their  places  of  security  ;  and 
these,  when  taken,  were  either  flayed  alive 
or  burnt. 

The  Waldenses  had  hitherto  had  only 
]  the  New  Testament,  and  a  few  books  of  the 

>  Old,  in  the  Waldensian  tongue;  but  they 
5  determined  now  to  have  the  Sacred  Wri- 
\  tings    complete    in   their   own    language. 

They  therefore  employed  a  Swiss  printer 
to  furnish  them  with  a  complete  edition  of 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments  in  the  Wal- 
densian tongue,  which  he  did  for  the  con- 
sideration of  fifteen  hundred  crowns  of 
gold  paid  him  by  those  pious  people. 

Pope  Paul  the  Third,  a  bigoted  papist, 
ascending  the  pontifical  chair,  immediately 
solicited  the  parliament  of  Turin  to  perse- 
cute the  Waldenses,  as  the  most  pernicious 
of  all  heretics. 

The  parliament  readily  agreed,  when 
S 


several  were  suddenly  apprehended  and 
burnt,  by  their  order.  Among  these  was 
Bartholomew  Hector,  a  bookseller  and 
stationer  of  Turin,  who  was  brought  up  a 
Roman  catholic,  but  having  read  some 
treatises  written  by  the  reformed  clergy,  he 
was  fully  convinced  of  the  errors  of  the 
church  of  Rome  ;  yet  his  mind  was,  for 
some  time,  wavering,  and  he  hardly  knew 
what  persuasion  to  embrace.  The  anguish 
of  his  soul,  the  palpitation  of  his  heart,  and 
the  doubts  which  tormented  his  breast,  are 
finely  described  in  a  poem,  written  by  him- 
self, which  has  thus  been  rendered  into 
English  : — 

JOB  XXIII.,  Ver.  3. 

"  O  that  I  knew  where  I  might  find  him  !" 

"  Where  shall  I  hide  my  blushing  face, 
So  full  of  horror  and  disgrace  ? 
Or  where  a  healing  med'cine  find, 
To  ease  the  anguish  of  my  mind  ? 

"  Worldlings  of  want  and  loss  complain, 
And  holy  joy  in  Christ  disdain  ; 
An  evil  heart  of  unbelief, 
Fills  my  whole  nature  full  of  grief. 

"  This  fatal  plague,  this  fiery  dart, 
Gives  me  intolerable  smart  ; 
I  pant,  I  weep,  I  groan,  I  cry, 
Pressed  by  exceeding  misery. 

"  Or  is  my  stony  heart  so  hard, 

Or  is  my  conscience  so  much  seared. 
That  I  can't  drop  a  single  tear, 
Through  filial  love,  or  servile  fear  ? 

"  Should  I  to  distant  lands  repair, 
My  evil  heart  attends  me  there  ; 
Should  I  attempt  to  cross  the  sea, 
From  my  own  self  I  can  not  flee. 

"  Where  shall  I  go  ?  What  shall  I  do  ? 
Who  will  relieve  my  torment  ? — Who  ! 
If  Jesus  will  not  heal  my  wound, 
My  place  in  hell  will  soon  be  found. 

"  Did  not  the  dear  Redeemer  bleed, 
To  purchase  life  for  all  his  seed  ? 
Did  he  not  die  upon  the  tree, 
To  save  rebellious  worms  like  me  ? 

<[  When  will  the  Prince  of  Peace  descend, 
And  bid  my  cries  and  conflicts  end? 
O  !  for  that  happy,  heavenly  day, 
When  Christ  shall  take  my  sins  away." 

Bartholomew  Hector,  at  length,  fully 
embraced  the  reformed  religion,  and  was 
apprehended,  as  we  have  already  mention- 
ed, and  burnt  by  order  of  the  parliament  of 
Turin. 

A  consultation  was  now   held   by   the 


■- 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


'3 
109  } 


parliament  of  Turin,  in  which  it  was  agreed, 
to  send  deputies  to  the  valleys  of  Piedmont, 
with  the  following  propositions  : — 

1.  That  if  the  Waldenses  would  come 
to  the  bosom  of  the  church  of  Rome,  and 
embrace  the  Roman  catholic  religion,  they 
should  enjoy  their  houses,  properties,  and 
lands,  and  live  with  their  families,  without 
the  least  molestation. 

2.  That  to  prove  their  obedience,  they 
should  send  twelve  of  their  principal  per- 
sons, with  all  their  ministers  and  school- 
masters, to  Turin,  to  be  dealt  with  at  dis- 
cretion. 

3.  That  the  pope,  the  king  of  France, 
and  the  duke  of  Savoy,  approved  of,  and 
authorized  the  proceedings  of  the  parlia- 
ment of  Turin,  upon  this  occasion. 

4.  That  if  the  Waldenses  of  the  valleys 
of  Piedmont  refused  to  comply  with  these 
propositions,  persecution  should  ensue,  and 
certain  death  be  their  portion. 

To  each  of  these  propositions  the  Wal- 
denses nobly  replied  in  the  following  man- 
ner, answering  them  respectively  : — 

1.  That  no  considerations  whatever 
should  make  them  renounce  their  religion. 

2.  That  they  would  never  consent  to 
commit  their  best  and  most  respectable 
friends,  to  the  custody  and  discretion  of 
their  worst  and  most  inveterate  enemies. 

3.  That  they  valued  the  approbation  of 
the  King  of  kings,  who  reigns  in  heaven, 
more  than  any  temporal  authority. 

4.  That  their  souls  were  more  precious 
than  their  lives. 

These  pointed  and  spirited  replies  greatly 
exasperated  the  parliament  of  Turin  :  they 
continued,  with  more  avidity  than  ever,  to 
kidnap  such  Waldenses  as  did  not  act  with 
proper  precaution,  who  were  sure  to  suffer 
the  most  cruel  deaths.  Among  these  it 
unfortunately  happened,  that  they  got  hold 
of  Jeffery  Varnagle,  minister  of  Angrogne, 
whom  they  committed  to  the  flames  as  a 
heretic. 

They  then  solicited  a  considerable  body 
of  troops  of  the  king  of  France,  in  order  to 
exterminate   the    reformed,   entirely,   from 


the  valleys  of  Piedmont ;  but  just  as  the 

troops  were  going  to  march,  the  protestant  j 

princes  of  Germany  interposed,  and  threaten-  ' 

ed  to  send  troops  to  assist  the  Waldenses,  < 

if  they  should  be  attacked.     The  king  of    < 

France,  not  caring  to  enter  into  a  war,  re-  \ 

manded  the  troops,  and  sent  word  to  the 

parliament  of  Turin,  that  he  could  not  spare  j 

any  troops  at  present  to  act  in  Piedmont.   ' 

The  members  of  the  parliament  were  greatly  I 

vexed  at  this  disappointment,  and  the  per-  \ 

secution    gradually    ceased ;    for    as   they  }t 

could  only  put  to  death  such  of  the  reform-  j 

ed  as  they  caught   by  chance,  and  as  the 

Waldenses  daily  grew  more  cautious,  their  j 

cruelty  was  obliged  to  subside,  for  want  of 

objects  on  whom  to  exercise  it. 

"  Experience  teaches  to  be  wise, 
While  danger  sharpens  human  eyes  ; 
And  the  more  hazards  we  have  run, 
The  more  expert  we  are  to  shun." 

After  the  Waldenses  had  enjoyed  a  few  ] 
years'  tranquillity,  they  were  again  dis-  \ 
turbed  by  the  following  means  :  the  pope's  ? 
nuncio  coming  to  Turin  to  the  duke  of  j 
Savoy  upon  business,  told  that  prince,  he  j 
was  astonished  he  had  not  yet  either  rooted  ) 
out  the  Waldenses  from  the  valleys  of 
Piedmont  entirely,  or  compelled  them  to 
enter  into  the  bosom  of  the  church  of  Rome,  j 
That  he  could  not  help  looking  upon  such  \ 
conduct  with  a  suspicious  eye,  and  that  he  \ 
really  thought  him  a  favorer  of  those  here-  \ 
tics,  and  should  report  the  affair  according-  j 
ly  to  his  holiness  the  pope.  X 

Stung  by  this  reflection,  and  unwilling  < 
to  be  misrepresented  to  the  pope,  the  duke  i 
determined  to  act  with  the  greatest  severity,  \ 
in  order  to  show  his  zeal,  and  to  make  j 
amends  for  former  neglect  by  future  cruelty.  j 
He,  accordingly,  issued  express  orders  for  s 
all  the  Waldenses  to  attend  mass  regularly,  > 
on  pain  of  death.  This  they  absolutely  s 
refused  to  do,  on  which  he  entered  the  \ 
Piedmontese  valleys,  with  a  formidable  s 
body  of  troops,  and  began  a  most  furious  \ 
persecution,  in  which  great  numbers  were  > 
Hanged,  Burnt, 

Drowned,  Stabbed, 

Ripped  open,  Racked  to  death, 


{  110 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


Tied  to  trees,  and         Crucified  with  their  |  the  flames,  and  drove  the  Waldenses  to  the 
pierced  with  prongs,      head.s  downward,  >  woods,  where  they  had  nothing  to  subsist 
Thrown  from  precipies,  Worried    by    dogs,  t  on  but  wild  fruits,  roots,  the  bark  of  trees, 
&c.     (See  engraving.)  t  &c. 

Those  who  fled  had  their  goods  plunder-  i  Some  Roman  catholic  ruffians  having 
ed,  and  their  houses  burnt  to  the  ground  :  <  seized  a  minister  as  he  was  going  to  preach, 
they  were  particularly  cruel  when  they  I  determined  to  take  him  to  a  convenient 
caught  a  minister  or  a  school-master,  whom  >,  place,  and  burn  him.  His  parishioners 
they  put  to  such  exquisite  tortures,  as  are  ^having  intelligence  of  the  affair,  the  men 
\  almost  incredible  to  conceive.  \  armed  themselves,  pursued  the  ruffians,  and 

>  The  most  cruel   persecutors,  upon   this  ',  seemed  determined  to  rescue  their  minister  ; 

i  occasion,  that  attended  the  duke,  were  three  )  which  the  ruffians  no  sooner  perceived,  than 
in  number,  viz.:  1.  Thomas  Incomel,  an  '>  they  stabbed  the  poor  gentleman,  and  leav- 
<  apostate  ;  for  he  was  brought  up  in  the  I  ing  him  weltering  in  his  blood,  made  a  pre- 
?  reformed  persuasion,  but  renounced  his  >  cipitate  retreat.  The  astonished  parishion- 
\  faith,  embraced  the  errors  of  popery,  and  ers  did  all  they  could  to  recover  him,  but  in 
j  turned   monk.     He  was  a  great  libertine,  |  vain ;  for  the  weapon  had  touched  the  vital 

<  given    to    unnatural    crimes,   and    sordidly  \  parts,  and  he  expired  as  they  were  carry- 
/  solicitous  for  the  plunder  of  the  Waldenses.  \  ing  him  home. 

<  2.  Corbis,  a  man  of  a  very   ferocious  and  j      The  monks  of  Pignerol  having  a  great 

>  cruel  nature,  whose  business    was  to  ex-  <  inclination  to  get  the  minister  of  a  town  in 

(  amine   the   prisoners.     3.  The  provost  of  <  the  valleys,  called  St.  Germain,  into  their  > 
(  justice,  who  was  very  anxious  for  the  exe-  \  power,  hired  a  band  of  ruflians  for  the  pur-  > 
j  cution  of  the  Waldenses,  as  every  execu-  \  pose  of  apprehending  him.     These  fellow*  J 
tion  put  money  into  his  pocket.  <  were  conducted  by  a  treacherous  person,   \ 

These,  three  persons  were  unmerciful  to  >  who  had  formerly  been  a  servant  to  the  ? 
the  last  degree  ;  and,  wherever  they  came,  f<  clergyman,  and  who  perfectly  well  knew  a 
the  blood  of  the  innocent  was  sure  to  flow.  \  secret  way  to  the  house,  by  which  he  could 
I  Exclusive  of  the  cruelties  exercised  by  \  lead  them  without  alarming  the  neighbor- 
l  the  duke,  these  three  persons,  and  the  \  hood.  The  guide  knocked  at  the  door,  and 
«  army,  in  their  different  marches,  many  i  being  asked  who  was  there,  answered  in  his 
I  local  barbarities  were  committed.     At  Pig-  t  own  name.     The  clergyman,  not  expecting 

<  nerol,  a  town  in  the  valleys,  was  a  monas-  \  any  injury  from  a  person  on  whom  he  had 
\  tery,  the  monks  of  which  finding  they  might  \  heaped    favors,    immediately    opened    the 

j  injure  the  reformed  with  impunity,  began  \  door  ;  but  perceiving  the  ruffians,  he  started  \ 
\  to  plunder  the  houses,  and  pull  down  the  \  back,  and  fled  to  a  back  door;  but  they  i 
',  churches  of  the  Waldenses.  Not  meeting  \  rushed  in,  followed,  and  seized  him.  Hav-  \ 
with  any  opposition,  they  next  seized  upon  \  ing  murdered  all  his  family,  they  made  him  \ 
the  persons  of  those  unhappy  people,  mur-  \  proceed  toward  Pignerol,  goading  him  all  \ 
dering  the  men,  confining  the  women,  and  \  the  way  with  pikes,  lances,  swords,  &c.  \ 
putting  the  children  to  Roman  catholic  <  He  was  kept  a  considerable  time  in  prison,  <, 
nurses.  <  and  then  fastened  to  the  stake  to  be  burnt;   \ 

The  Roman  catholic  inhabitants  of  the  \  when  two  women  of  the  Waldenses,  who 
valley  of  St.  Martin,  likewise,  did  all  they  '  had  renounced  their  religion  to  save  their 
could  to  vex  and  torment  the  neighboring  <  lives,  were  ordered  to  carry  fagots  to  the  > 
Waldenses  :  they  destroyed  their  churches,  <  stake  to  bum  him  ;  and  as  they  laid  them  s 
burnt  their  houses,  seized  their  properties,  $  down,  to  say,  "  Take  these,  thou  wicked  \ 
stole  their  cattle,  converted  their  lands  to  \  heretic,  in  recompense  for  the  pernicious  < 
their  own  use,  committed  their  ministers  to  j  doctrines  that  thou  hast  taught  us."  These  \ 
« 8 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


Ill 


words  they  both  repeated  tohiin  :  to  which    it  as  a  rarity."     He  then  stabbed  the  man, 
he  calmly  replied  :  "  I  formerly  taught  you  <  and  threw  him  into  a  ditch, 
well,  but  you  have  since  learned  ill."     The  \      A  party  of  the  troops  found  a  venerable 
fire  was  then  put  to  the  fagots,  and  he  was  \  man  upward  of  a  hundred  years  of  age,  to- 
speedily  consumed,  calling  upon  the  name  <  gether  with  his  grand-daughter,  a  maiden, 
of  the  Lord  as  long  as  his  voice  permitted.  I  of  about  eighteen,  in  a  cave.     They  butch- 
As  the  troops  of  ruffians,  belonging  to  I  ered  the  poor  old  man  in  a  most  inhuman 
the  monks,  did   great  mischief  about  the  s  manner,  and  then  attempted  to  violate  the 
town  of  St.  Germain,  murdering  and  plim-  >  girl,  when  she  started  away,  and  fled  from 
dering  many  of  the  inhabitants,  the  reform-  >  them  ;   but  they  pursuing   her,  she   threw 
I  ed  of   Lucerne  and   Angrogne   sent  some  I  herself  from  a  precipice,  and  perished. 
>  bands  of  armed  men  to  the  assistance  of>      The  Waldenses,  in  order  the  more  ef- 
\  their    brethren    of   St.    Germain.      These  >  fectually  to  be  able  to  repel  force  by  force, 
I  bodies  of  armed  men  frequently  attacked  '>  entered  into  a  league  with  the  protestants 
<  the  ruffians,  and  often  put  them  to  the  rout,  >  of  Dauphiny,  with  some  protestant  powers 
which  so  terrified  the  monks,  that  they  left  \  in    Germany,  and   with    the   reformed  of 
their  monastery  of  Pignerol  for  sometime,  j  Pragela.     These  were,  respectively,  to  fur- 
till  they  could  procure  a  body  of  regular    nish  bodies  of  troops  ;  and  the  Waldenses 
troops  to  guard  them.  j  determined,  when  thus  reinforced,  to  quit 

The  duke,  not  thinking  himself  so  sue-  the  mountains  of  the  Alps  (where  they  must 
cessful  as  he  at  first  imagined  he  should  be,  j  soon  have  perished,  as  the  winter  was 
greatly  augmented  his  forces  ;  ordered  the  ^  coming  on),  and  to  force  the  duke's  army 
bands  of  ruffians,  belonging  to  the  monks,  j  to  evacuate  their  native  valleys, 
should  join  him  ;  and  commanded,  that  a  i  The  duke  of  Savoy  was  now  tired  of  the 
general  jail  delivery  should  take  place,  pro-  >  war  ;  it  had  cost  him  great  fatigue  and 
vided  the  persons  released  would  bear  I  anxiety  of  mind,  a  vast  number  of  men,  and 
arms,  and  form  themselves  into  light  com- 1  very  considerable  sums  of  money.  It  had 
panies,  to  assist  in  the  extermination  of  the  ;  been  much  more  tedious  and  bloody  than 
"\\  aldenses.  j  he   expected,  as  well  as   more   expensive 

The  Waldenses,  being  informed  of  these  \  than  he  could  at  first  have  imagined,  for  he 
\  proceedings,    secured    as    much    of    their  <  thought  the  plunder  would  have  discharged 
properties  as  they  could,  and  quitting  the  i  the  expenses  of  the  expedition  ;  but  in  this 
valleys,  retired    to    the    rocks    and    caves  \  he   was   mistaken,  for  the   pope's  nuncio, 
among  the  Alps  ;  for  it  is  to  be  understood,  >  the  bishops,  monks,  and  other  ecclesiastics, 
that  the  valleys  of  Piedmont  are  situated  at  I  who   attended  the   army,  and   encouraged 
j  the    foot   of  those    prodigious    mountains,  \  the   war,   sunk    the    greatest   part   of  the 
\  called  the  Alps,  or  the  Alpine  hills.  <  wealth  that  was  taken  under  various  pre- 

The  army  now  began  to  plunder  and  I  tences.  For  these  reasons,  and  the  death 
burn  the  towns  and  villages  wherever  they  <  of  his  duchess,  of  which  he  had  just  re- 
came  ;  but  the  troops  could  not  force  the  <  ceived  intelligence,  and  fearing  that  the 
passes  to  the  Alps,  which  were  gallantly  <  Waldenses,  by  the  treaties  they  had  en- 
defended  by  the  Waldenses,  who  always  <  tered  into,  would  become  more  powerful 
repulsed  their  enemies  ;  but  if  any  fell  into  <  than  ever,  he  determined  to  return  to  Turin 
the  hands  of  the  troops,  they  were  sure  to  <  with  his  army,  and  to  make  peace  with  the 
\  be  treated  with  the  most  barbarous  severity.  <  Waldenses. 

A  soldier  having  caught  one  of  the  Wal-  <      This    resolution    he    executed,    though 

|  denses,  bit  his  right  ear  off,  saying,  "  I  will  <  greatly  against  the  will  of  the  ecclesiastics, 

j  carry  this  member  of  that  wicked  heretic  I  who  were  the  chief  gainers,  and  the  best 

with  me  into  my  own  country,  and  preserve  \  pleased  with  revenge.     Before  the  articles 


M 


112 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


of  peace  could  be  ratified,  the  duke  himself 
died  soon  after  his  return  to  Turin  ;  but  on 
his  death-bed  he  strictly  enjoined  his  son 
to  perform  what  he  had  intended,  and  to 
be  as  favorable  as  possible  to  the  Wal- 
denses. 

The  duke's  son,  Charles  Emanuel,  suc- 
'.  ceeded  to  the  dominions  of  Savoy,  and 
gave  a  full  ratification  of  peace  to  the  Wal- 
denses,  according  to  the  last  injunction 
of  his  father,  though  the  ecclesiastics  did 
all  they  could  to  persuade  him  to  the  con- 
trary. 

Notwithstanding  the  peace,  the  monks 
and  inquisitors  did  all  they  could  to  op- 
press those  of  the  reformed  religion  by  the 
most  insidious  means  ;  in  particular,  one 
Bartholomew  Copin,  of  Lucerne,  goinji  to 
Ast,  to  dispose  of  some  merchandise,  hap- 
pened to  sup  with  some  Roman  catholics. 
One  of  the  company,  after  supper,  spoke 
with  great  asperity  against  the  Waldenses, 
abused  them  in  a  most  infamous  manner, 
and  charged  them  with  almost  every  crime 
that  could  be  committed.  Copin  was  great- 
ly enraged  to  hear  his  religion  so  falsely 
vilified,  and  the  innocent  professors  of  it 
so  scandalously  accused  :  he  therefore  en- 
tered into  a  strenuous  defence  of  both, 
when  the  papist  interrupting  him,  said, 
"  Pray,  sir,  are  you  a  Waldensian  ?"  "  I 
am,"  replied  Copin.  "  Do  you  believe  that 
God  is  in  the  host  ?"  said  the  other.  "  I  do 
not,"  said  Copin.  "Then  your  religion 
must  be  false  indeed  ;"  said  the  Roman 
catholic.  "  Not  at  all,"  answered  Copin  ; 
"  it  is  as  true  as  God  from  whom  it  pro- 
ceeds." 

The  papist  thought  this  sufficient,  and 
therefore  asked  no  more  questions  that 
evening ;  but  the  next  morning  laid  an  in- 
formation before  the  bishop. 

Copin,  being  sumnif/Cec  to  attend  the 
ecclesiastical  court,  confessed  the  expres- 
sions he  was  charged  with,  when  the 
bishop  told  him  he  must  either  recant  or 
be  punished.  Copin  replied,  he  had  been 
provoked  to  what  he  had  said,  yet  he 
would  abide  by  it  with  his  life  ;  that  he 


had  property  and  a  family,  but  valued 
nothing  so  much  as  his  soul ;  nor  did  he 
think  that  any  one  had  a  right  to  detain 
him  for  his  opinion  ;  that  Turks  and  Jews 
were  suffered  to  vend  their  merchandise 
without  molestation,  and  therefore  he 
thought  it  very  hard  to  be  denied  that  privi- 
lege. 

The  bishop  committed  him  to  prison, 
and  the  next  day  the  secretary  went  to 
him,  and  told  him  that  unless  he  acknowl- 
edged his  error,  his  life  would  be  in  danger. 
To  which  he  replied  :  "  My  life  is  in  the 
hands  of  God,  and  I  desire  not  to  preserve 
it  to  the  prejudice  of  the  glory  of  my  Re- 
deemer :  there  are  but  a  few  paces  in  the 
journey  to  heaven,  and  I  pray  that  the  Al- 
mighty will  not  suffer  me  once  to  think  of 
turning  back,  when  I  begin  to  travel  that 
way. 

At  a  second  examination,  great  persua- 
sions were  used  to  induce  him  to  recant, 
but  in  vain  ;  for  he  said,  "  If  I  deny  Christ 
before  men,  Christ  will  deny  me  to  my 
heavenly  Father."  On  hearing  this,  one 
of  the  priests  present  exclaimed  in  great 
wrath,  "  Go  thy  ways,  thou  cursed  heretic, 
to  all  the  devils  in  hell ;  and  when  they 
torment  thee,  thou  shalt  be  sorry  for  not 
having  taken  the  good  counsel  given  thee 
here." 

His  wife  and  son  had  been  sent  for,  that 
they  might  tempt  him  to  recant;  but  as 
soon  as  he  saw  them,  he  exhorted  them  to 
patience  and  perseverance  in  their  religion  ; 
saying,  "  God  will  prove  a  better  husband, 
and  a  better  father,  than  I  could  ever  be." 
After  taking  a  tender  leave  he  sent  them 
home,  commanding  them  to  wait  the  dis- 
pensations of  Providence,  and  patiently  to 
expect  the  results  of  his  fate. 

The  bishop  himself,  after  all,  was  puz- 
zled to  know  what  to  do  with  Copin  ;  for 
if  he  discharged  him,  he  was  apprehensive 
that  others  would  be  encouraged  to  speak 
their  sentiments  freely,  thinking  they  might 
do  it  with  impunity  ;  and,  on  the  contrary, 
if  he  openly  put  him  to  death,  he  feared  it 
might  be  deemed  a  violation  of  the  treaty 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTY/ROLOGY. 


113 


m 


lately  made  between  the  duke  and  the  i  It  evidently  appeared  that  he  had  been 
Waldenses,  and  that  himself  might  suffer  strangled ;  but  as  the  murderer  was  Un- 
as the  first  infringer  of  it.  He  therefore  5  known,  this  bishop  thought  proper  to  give 
sent  a  messenger  to  the  pope  to  know  how  \  out  that  he  had  hanged  himself. 

to  proceed  ;  but  before  his  return  with  the  \ 

...  ^      ■  r        ill-  •         ,(         "  Where  public  rage,  and  open  malice  fail, 

directions,  Lopin  was  lound  dead  in  prison  !  \  Secret  assassination  will  prevail." 


FURTHER  PERSECUTIONS  IN  THE  VALLEYS  OF  PIEDMONT. 


IOVANNI  PELANCHI- 
ON,  for  refusing  to  turn 
papist,  was  tied  by  one 
leg  to  the  tail  of  a  mule, 
and  dragged  through 
the  streets  of  Lucerne, 
amid  the  acclamations  of  an  inhuman  mob, 
who  kept  stoning  him,  and  crying  out, 
"  He  is  possessed  with  the  devil,  so  that 
neither  stoning  nor  dragging  him  through 
the  streets  will  kill  him,  for  the  devil  keeps 
him  alive."  They  they  then  took  him  to 
the  river-side,  chopped,  off  his  head,  and 
left  that  and  his  body  unburied  upon  the 
bank  of  the  stream. 

Magdalen,  the  daughter  of  Peter  Fon- 
taine, a  beautiful  child  of  ten  years  of  age, 
was  violated  and  murdered  by  the  soldiers. 
Another  girl,  of  about  the  same  age,  they 
roasted  alive  at  Villa  Nova  ;  and  a  poor  wo- 
man, hearing  the  soldiers  were  coming  tow- 
ard her  house,  snatched  up  the  cradle  in 
which  her  infant  son  was  asleep,  and  fled 
toward  the  woods.  The  soldiers,  however, 
saw  and  pursued  her,  when  she  lightened 
herself  by  putting  down  the  cradle  and 
child,  which  the  soldiers  no  sooner  came 
to,  than  they  murdered  the  infant,  and  con- 
tinuing the  pursuit,  found  the  mother  in  a 
cave,  where  they  first  violated,  and  then 
cut  her  to  pieces. 

Jacopo  Michelino,  chief  elder  of  the 
church  of  Bobbio,  and  several  other  protes- 
tants,  were  hung  up  by  means  of  hooks 
fixed  in  their  flesh,  and  left  to  expire  in 
the  most  excruciating  tortures. 


"  Of  all  the  monsters  that  the  world  pollute, 
None  is  so  savage  as  a  human  brute ; 
Man,  when  benevolence  is  once  forgot, 
Is  one  gross  error,  one  prodigious  blot." 

Giovanni  Rostagnal,  a  venerable  prot- 
estant,  upward  of  fourscore  years  of  age, 
had  his  nose  and  ears  cut  off,  and  slices 
cut  from  the  fleshy  parts  of  his  body,  till 
he  bled  to  death. 

Seven  persons,  viz. :  Daniel  Saleagio 
and  his  wife,  Giovanni  Durant,  Lodwick 
Durant,  Bartholomew  Durant,  Daniel  Re- 
vel, and  Paul  Reynaud,  had  their  mouths 
stuffed  with  gunpowder,  which  being  set 
fire  to,  their  heads  were  blown  to  pieces. 

Jacob  Dirone,  a  schoolmaster  of  Ro- 
rata,  for  refusing  to  change  his  religion, 
was  stripped  quite  naked ;  and  after  hav- 
ing been  very  indecently  exposed,  had  the 
nails  of  his  toes  and  fingers  torn  off  with 
red-hot  pincers,  and  holes  bored  through 
his  hands  with  the  point  of  a  dagger.  He 
then  had  a  cord  tied  round  his  middle,  and 
was  led  through  the  streets  with  a  soldier 
on  each  side  of  him.  At  every  turning,  the 
soldier  on  his  right-hand  side  cut  a  gash 
in  his  flesh,  and  the  soldier  on  his  left- 
hand  side  struck  him  with  a  bludgeon,  both 
saying,  at  the  same  instant,  "  Will  you  go 
to  mass  1  Will  you  go  to  mass  ?"  He  still 
replied  in  the  negative  to  these  interroga- 
tories, and  being  at  length  taken  to  the 
bridge,  they  cut  off  his  head  on  the  balus- 
trades, and  threw  both  that  and  his  body 
into  the  river. 

Paul  Garnier,  a  very  pious  protestant, 
had  his  eyes  put  out,  was  then  flayed  alive, 


114 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MAilTYROLOGY. 


and  being  divided  into  four  parts,  his  quar- 
ters were  placed  on  four  of  the  principal 
houses  of  Lucerne.  He  bore  all  his  suffer- 
ings with  the  most  exemplary  patience, 
praised  God  as  long  as  he  could  speak, 
and  plainly  evinced  what  confidence  and 
resignation  a  good  conscience  can  in- 
spire. 

Daniel  Cardon,  of  Rocappiata,  being 
apprehended  by  some  soldiers,  they  cut 
his  head  off,  and  having  fried  his  brains, 
ate  them.  Two  poor  old  blind  women  of 
St.  Giovanni,  were  burnt  alive ;  and  a 
widow  of  La  Torre,  with  her  daughter, 
were  driven  into  the  river,  and  there  stoned 
to  death. 

Paul  Giles,  on  attempting  to  run  away 
from  some  soldiers,  was  shot  in  the  neck : 
they  then  slit  his  nose,  sliced  his  chin, 
stabbed  him,  and  gave  his  carcase  to  the 
dogs. 

Some  of  the  Irish  troops  having  taken 
eleven  men  of  Garcigliana  prisoners,  they 
made  a  furnace  red-hot,  and  forced  them  to 
push  each  other  in  till  they  came  to  the 
last  man,  whom  they  pushed  in  themselves. 

Michaf.l  Gonet,  a  man  of  ninety,  was 
burnt  to  death  ;  Baptista  Oudri,  another  old 
man,  was  stabbed ;  and  Bartholomew 
Frasche  had  holes  made  in  his  heels, 
through  which  ropes  being  put,  he  was 
dragged  by  them  to  the  jail,  where  his 
wounds  mortified,  and  killed  him. 

Magdalene  de  la  Peire,  being  pur- 
sued by  some  of  the  soldiers,  and  taken, 
was  thrown  down  a  precipice  and  dashed 
to  pieces.  Margaret  Revella,  and  Mary 
Pravillerin,  two  very  old  women,  were 
burnt  alive  ;  and  Michael  Bellino,  with  Ann 
Bochardino,  were  beheaded. 

The  son  and  daughter  of  a  counsellor 
of  Giovanni,  were  rolled  down  a  steep  hill 
together,  and  suffered  to  perish  in  a  deep 
pit  at  the  bottom.  A  tradesman's  family, 
viz. :  himself,  his  wife,  and  an  infant  in 
arms,  were  cast  from  a  rock  and  dashed 
to  pieces  ;  and  Joseph  Chairet,  and  Paul 
Carniero,  were  flayed  alive. 

Cypriania  Bustia,  being  asked  if  he 


would  renounce  his  religion,  and  turn  Ro- 
man catholic,  replied,  "  I  would  rather  re- 
nounce life,  or  turn  dog."  To  which  a 
priest  answered,  "  For  that  expression  you 
shall  both  renounce  life  and  be  given  to 
the  dogs."  They  accordingly  dragged  him 
to  prison,  where  he  continued  a  considera- 
ble time  without  food,  till  he  was  famished  ; 
after  which  they  threw  his  corpse  into  the 
street  before  the  prison,  and  it  was  de- 
voured by  dogs  in  a  most  shocking  manner. 

Margaret  Saretta  was  stoned  to  death, 
and  then  thrown  into  the  river ;  Antonio 
Bertina  had  his  head  cleft  asunder  ;  and 
Joseph  Pont  was  cut  through  the  middle  of 
his  body. 

Daniel  Maria,  and  his  whole  family, 
being  ill  of  a  fever,  several  papist  ruffians 
broke  into  his  house,  telling  him  they  were 
practical  physicians,  and  would  give  them 
all  present  ease,  which  they  did,  by  knock- 
ing the  whole  family  on  the  head. 

Three  infant  children  of  a  protestant, 
named  Peter  Fine,  were  covered  with  snow, 
and  stifled ;  an  elderly  widow,  named 
Judith,  was  beheaded  ;  and  a  beautiful 
young  woman  was  stripped,  and  had  a  stake 
driven  through  her  body,  of  which  she  ex- 
pired. 

Lucy,  the  wife  of  Peter  Besson,  a  woman 
far  gone  in  her  pregnancy,  who  lived  in 
one  of  the  villages  of  the  Piedmontese  val- 
leys, determined,  if  possible,  to  escape 
from  such  dreadful  scenes  as  everywhere 
surrounded  her  :  she,  accordingly,  took  two 
young  children,  one  in  each  hand,  and  set 
off  toward  the  Alps.  But  on  the  third  day 
of  the  journey  she  was  taken  in  labor  among 
the  mountains,  and  delivered  of  an  infant, 
who  perished  through  the  extreme  inclem- 
ency of  the  weather,  as  did  the  two  other 
children  ;  for  all  three  were  found  dead  by 
her,  and  herself  just  expiring,  by  the  per- 
son to  whom  she  related  the  above  par- 
ticulars. 

Francis  Gros,  the  son  of  a  clergyman, 
had  his  flesh  slowly  cut  from  his  body  into 
small  pieces,  and  put  into  a  dish  before 
him  :  two  of  his  children  were  minced  be- 


«L. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


115 


fore  his  sight ;  and  his  wife  was  fastened  to 
a  post,  that  she  might  behold  all  these 
cruelties  practised  on  her  husband  and  off- 
spring. The  tormentors,  at  length,  being 
tired  of  exercising  their  cruelties,  cut  off  the 
heads  of  both  husband  and  wife,  and  then 
gave  the  flesh  of  the  whole  family  to  the 
dogs. 

The  Sieur  Thomas  Margher  fled  to  a 
cave,  when  the  soldiers  shut  up  the  mouth, 
and  he  perished  with  famine.  Judith 
Revelin,  with  seven  children,  were  bar- 
barously murdered  in  their  beds  ;  and  a 
widow  of  near  fourscore  years  of  age,  was 
hewn  to  pieces  by  the  soldiers. 

Jacob  Roseno  was  ordered  to  pray  to 
the  saints,  which  he  absolutely  refused  to 
do  :  some  of  the  soldiers  beat  him  violently 
with  bludgeons  to  make  him  comply,  but 
he  still  refusing,  several  of  them  fired  at 
him,  and  lodged  a  great  many  balls  in  his 
body.  As  he  was  almost  expiring,  they 
cried  to  him,  "  Will  you  call  upon  the 
saints'?  Will  you  pray  to  the  saints?" 
To  which  he  answered,  "  No  !  No  !  No  !" 
when  one  of  the  soldiers,  with  a  broad- 
sword, clove  his  head  asunder,  and  put  an 
end  to  his  sufferings  in  this  world ;  for 
which,  undoubtedly,  he  is  gloriously  re- 
warded in  the  next. 

A  soldier,  attempting  to  violate  a  beau- 
tiful young  woman,  named  Susanna  Giac- 
quin,  she  made  a  stout  resistance,  and  in 


1  the  struggle  pushed  him  over  a  precipice, 
I  when  he  was  dashed  to  pieces  by  the  fall. 
I  His  comrades,  instead  of  admiring  the  vir- 
tue of  the  young  woman,  and  applauding 
her  for  so  nobly  defending  her  chastity, 
fell  upon  her  with  their  swords,  and  cut  her 
to  pieces. 

Giovanni  Pullius,  a  poor  peasant  of 
La  Torre,  being  apprehended  as  a  prot- 
estant  by  the  soldiers,  was  ordered,  by  the 
marquis  of  Pionossa,  to  be  executed  in  a 
place  near  the  convent.  When  he  came  to 
the  gallows,  several  monks  attended,  and 
did  all  they  could  to  persuade  him  to  re- 
nounce his  religion.  But  he  told  them,  he 
never  would  embrace  idolatry,  and  that  he 
was  happy  in  being  thought  worthy  to  suf- 
fer for  the  name  of  Christ.  They  then  put 
him  in  mind  of  what  his  wife  and  children, 
who  depended  upon  his  labor,  would  suffer 
after  his  decease  :  to  which  he  replied,  "  I 
would  have  my  wife  and  children,  as  well 
as  myself,  to  consider  their  souls  more  than 
their  bodies,  and  the  next  world  before 
this  :  and  with  respect  to  the  distress  I  may 
leave  them  in,  God  is  merciful,  and  will 
provide  for  them  while  they  are  worthy  of 
his  protection."  Finding  the  inflexibility 
of  this  poor  man,  the  monks  cried,  "  Turn 
him  off,  turn  him  off:"  which  the  execu- 
tioner did  almost  immediately,  and  the  body 
being  afterward  cut  down,  was  flung  into 
the  river. 


MORE  PERSECUTIONS  IN  THE  VALLEYS  OF  PIEDMONT. 


AUL  CLEMENT,  an  elder; 
of  the  church  of  Rossana, 
being  apprehended  by  the : 
monks  of  a  neighboring  mo- ; 
nastery,  was  carried  to  the : 
market  place  of  that  town,; 
where  some  protestants  having  just  been; 
executed  by  the  soldiers,  he  was  shown: 
the  dead  bodies,  in  order  that  the   sight! 


might  intimidate  him.  On  beholding  the 
shocking  objects,  he  said,  calmly :  "  You 
may  kill  the  body,  but  you  can  not  preju- 
dice the  soul  of  a  true  believer ;  but,  with 
respect  to  the  dreadful  spectacles  which 
you  have  here  shown  me,  you  may  rest  as- 
sured, that  God's  vengeance  will  overtake 
the  murderers  of  those  poor  people,  and 
punish  them  for  the  innocent  blood  they 


116 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


have  spilt."  The  monks  were  so  exasper- 
ated at  this  reply,  that  they  ordered  him  to 
be  hung  up  directly  ;  and  while  he  was 
hanging,  the  soldiers  amused  themselves 
in  shooting  at  the  body  as  at  a  mark. 

Daniel  Rambaut,  of  Villaro,  the  father 
of  a  numerous  family,  was  apprehended, 
and,  with  several  others,  committed  to 
prison  in  the  jail  of  Paysana.  Here  he 
was  visited  by  several  priests,  who,  with 
continual  importunities,  did  all  they  could 
to  persuade  him  to  renounce  the  protestant 
religion,  and  turn  papist ;  but  this  he  per- 
emptorily refused,  and  the  priests  finding  his 
resolution,  pretended  to  pity  his  numerous 
family,  and  told  him,  that  he  might  yet  save 
his  life,  if  he  would  subscribe  to  the  be- 
lief of  the  following  articles  : — 

1.  The  real  presence  in  the  host. 

2.  Transubstantiation. 

3.  Purgatory. 

4.  The  pope's  infallibility. 

5.  That  masses  said  for  the  dead  will 
release  souls  from  purgatory. 

6.  That  praying  to  saints  will  procure 
the  remission  of  sins. 

M.  Rambaut  told  the  priests,  that  neither 
his  religion,  his  understanding,  nor  his  con- 
science, would  suffer  him  to  subscribe  any 
of  the  articles,  for  the  following  reasons  : — 

1.  That  to  believe  the  real  presence  in 
the  host,  is  a  shocking  union  of  both  blas- 
phemy and  idolatry. 

2.  That  to  fancy  the  words  of  consecra- 
tion performs  what  the  papists  call  transub- 
stantiation, by  converting  the  wafer  and 
wine  into  the  real  and  identical  body  and 
blood  of  Christ,  which  was  crucified,  and 
which  afterward  ascended  into  heaven,  is 
too  gross  an  absurdity  for  even  a  child  to 
believe,  who  was  come  to  the  least  glim- 
mering of  reason,  and  that  nothing  but  the 
most  blind  superstition  could  make  the 
Roman  catholics  put  a  confidence  in  any- 
thing so  completely  ridiculous. 

3.  That  the  doctrine  of  purgatory  was 
more  inconsistent  and  absurd  than  a  fairy 
tale. 


4.  That  the  pope's  being  infallible  was 
an  impossibility,  and  the  pope  arrogantly 
laid  claim  to  what  could  belong  to  God 
only,  as  a  perfect  being. 

5.  That  saying  masses  for  the  dead  was 
ridiculous,  and  only  meant  to  keep  up  a 
belief  in  the  fable  of  purgatory,  as  the  fate 
of  all  is  finally  decided,  on  the  departure 
of  the  soul  from  the  body. 

6.  That  praying  to  saints  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins,  is  misplacing  adoration  ;  as  the 
saints  themselves  have  occasion  for  an  in- 
tercessor in  Christ.  Therefore,  as  God 
only  can  pardon  our  errors,  we  ought  to 
sue  to  him  alone  for  pardon. 

The  priests  were  so  highly  offended  at 
M.  Rainbaut's  answers  to  the  articles  to 
which  they  would  have  had  him  subscribe, 
that  they  determined  to  shake  his  resolu- 
tion by  the  most  cruel  method  imaginable  : 
they  ordered  one  joint  of  his  fingers  to  be 
cut  off  every  day,  till  all  his  fingers  were 
gone  ;  they  then  proceeded  in  the  same 
manner  with  his  toes  ;  afterward  they  al- 
ternately cut  off  daily,  a  hand  and  a  foot ; 
but  finding  that  he  bore  his  sufferings  with 
the  most  admirable  patience,  increased  both 
in  fortitude  and  resignation,  and  maintained 
his  faith  with  steadfast  resolution,  and  un- 
shaken constancy,  they  stabbed  him  to  the 
heart,  and  then  gave  his  body  to  be  de- 
voured by  dogs. 

Peter  Gabriola,  a  protestant  gentle- 
man of  considerable  eminence,  being  seized 
by  a  troop  of  soldiers,  and  refusing  to  re- 
nounce his  religion,  they  hung  a  great 
number  of  little  bags  of  gunpowder  about 
his  body,  and  then  setting  fire  to  them  blew 
him  up. 

Anthony,  the  son  of  Samuel  Catieris,  a 
poor  dumb  lad  who  was  extremely  inoffen- 
sive, was  cut  to  pieces  by  a  party  of  the 
troops  ;  and  soon  after  the  same  ruffians 
entered  the  house  of  Peter  Moniriat,  and 
cut  off  the  legs  of  the  whole  family,  leav- 
ing them  to  bleed  to  death,  as  they  were 
unable  to  assist  themselves,  or  to  help  each 
other. 


B 


y 


E~ — 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


n 

117  | 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  GERMANY, 


HE  persecutions  in  Germa-  £ 
n;'  having  subsided  many  ? 
years,  again  broke   out  in  \ 
1630,  on    account  of  the 
war,  between  the  emperor, 
and  the   king  of  Sweden, 
\  for  the  latter  was  a  protestant  prince,  and 
I  consequently  the  protestants   of  Germany 
£  espoused    his    cause,    which    greatly    ex- 

>  asperated  the  emperor  against  them. 

\  The  imperialists  having  laid  siege  to  the 
\  town  of  Passe  walk  (which  was  defended  \ 
J  by  the  Swedes),  took  it  by  storm,  and  com- 
\  mitted  the  most  horrid  cruelties  on  the  oc- 
casion. They  pulled  down  the  churches, 
burnt  the  houses,  pillaged  the  properties, 
massacred  the  ministers,  put  the  garrison 
to  the  sword,  hanged  the  townsmen,  viola- 
led   the  women,   smothered  the   children, 

>  &c,  &c. 

^       A  most  bloody  tragedy  was    transacted  > 
<  at  Magdeburg,   in    the    year    1631.     The  f> 
\  generals,  Tilly  and    Pappenheim,    having  5 
i  taken  that  protestant  city  by  storm,  upward  ^ 
I  of  twenty  thousand  persons,   without   dis- 
;  tinction   of  rank,  sex,  or   age,  were   slain 
j  £  during  the  carnage,  and  six  thousand  were 
?  drowned  in  attempting  to  escape  over  the 


I? 


\  river  Elbe.  After  this  fury  subsided,  the 
remaining  inhabitants  were  stripped,  se- 
verely scourged,  had  their  ears  cropped, 
and  being  yoked  together  like  oxen,  were 
turned  adrift. 

The  town  of  Hoxter  was  taken  by  the 
popish  army,  and  all  the  inhabitants  as 
well  as  the  garrison  were  put  to  the  sword  ; 
when  the  houses  being  set  on  fire,  the 
bodies  were  consumed  in  the  flames. 

At  Griphenburg,  when  the  imperial  forces 
prevailed,  they  shut  up  the  senators  in  the 
senate-chamber,  and  surrounding  it  by 
lighted  straw,  suffocated  them. 

Franhendal  surrendered  upon  articles 
of  capitulation,  yet  the  inhabitants  were  as 


cruelly  used  as  at  other  piaces,  and  at 
Heidelburg  many  were  shut  up  in  prison 
and  starved. 

The  cruelties  used  by  the  imperial 
troops,  under  Count  Tilly  in  Saxony,  are 
thus  enumerated : — 

Half-strangling,  and  recovering  the  per- 
sons again  repeatedly. 

Rolling  sharp  wheels  over  the  fingers 
and  toes. 

Pinching  the  thumbs  in  a  vice. 

Forcing  the  most  filthy  things  down  the 
throats,  by  which  many  were  choked. 

Tying  cords  round  the  head  so  tight  that 
the  blood  gushed  out  of  the  eyes,  nose, 
ears,  and  mouth. 

Fastening  burning  matches  to  the  fingers, 
toes,  ears,  arms,  legs,  and  even  tongue. 

Putting  powder  in  the  mouth  and  setting 
fire  to  it,  by  which  the  head  was  shattered 
to  pieces. 

Tying  bags  of  powder  to  all  parts  of  the 
body,  by  which  the  person  was  blown  up. 

Drawing  cords  backward  and  forward 
through  the  fleshy  parts. 

Making  incisions  with  bodkins  and 
knives  in  the  skin. 

Running  wires  through  the  noses,  ears, 
lips,  &c. 

Hanging  protestants  up  by  the  legs,  with 
their  heads  over  a  fire,  by  which  they  were 
smoke-dried. 

Hanging  up  by  one  arm  till  it  was  dis- 
located. 

Hanging  upon  hooks  by  the  ribs. 

Baking  many  in  hot  ovens. 

Forcing  people  to  drink  till  they  burst. 

Fixing  weights  to  the  feet,  and  drawing 
up  several  with  pulleys. 

Hanging,  Strangling, 

Stifling,  Burning, 

Roasting,  Broiling, 

Stabbing,  Crucifying, 

Frying,  Immuring, 


J   118 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


|  Racking,  Poisoning, 

$  Violating,  Cutting  off  tongue, 

5  Ripping  open,  nose,  ears,  &c, 

s  Breaking  the  bones,   Sawing  off  the  limbs, 

Rasping  off  the  flesh,  Hacking  to  pieces, 

Tearing  with  wild       Drawing  by  the  heels 
horses,  through  the  streets, 

Drowning. 

These  enormous  cruelties  will  be  a  per- 
]  petual  stain  on  the  memory  of  Count  Tilly, 
J  who  not  only  permitted,  but  even  coin- 
\  manded  his  troops  to  put  them  in  practice. 
\  Wherever  he  came,  the  most  horrid  bar- 
s  barities  and  cruel  depredations  ensued : 
{  famine  and  conflagration  marked  his  prog- 
]  ress  ;  for  he  destroyed  all  the  provisions 
\  he  could  not  take  with  him,  and  burnt  all 
)  the  towns  before  he  left  them  ;  so  that  the 
i  full  result  of  his  conquests  were  murder, 
\  poverty,  and  desolation. 
I  An  aged  and  pious  divine  they  stripped, 
>  tied  him  on  his  back  upon  a  table,  and 
?  fastened  a  large  fierce  cat  upon  his  belly. 
5  They  then  pricked  and  tormented  the  cat 
5  in  such  a  manner,  that  the  creature,  with 
I  rage,  tore  his  belly  open,  and  gnawed  his 

bowels. 

Another  minister  and  his  family  were 
'<  seized  by  these  inhuman  monsters ;  when 
,  they  violated  his  wife  and  daughter  before 
<  his  face,  stuck  his  infant  son  upon  the 
i  point  of  a  lance,  and  then  surrounding  him 
I  with  his  whole  library  of  books,  they  set  fire 
|  to  them,  and  he  was  consumed  in  the  midst 
I  of  the  flames. 

In  Hesse-Cassel  some  of  the  troops  en- 
\  tered  an  hospital,  in  which  were  principally 
''  mad  women,  when  stripping  the  poor 
\  wretches,  they  made  them  run  about  the 
<(  streets  for  their  diversion,  and  then  put 
\  them  to  death. 

I  In  Pomerania,  some  of  the  imperial 
i  troops  entering  a  small  town,  seized  upon  j 
\  all  the  young  women,  and  girls  of  up-  s 
\  ward  of  ten  years,  and  then  placing  their  < 
:  parents  in  a  circle,  they  ordered  them  to  ;, 
;  sing  psalms,  while  they  violated  their  chil- 
\  dren,  or  else  they  swore  they  would  cut  s 
1  them  to  pieces  afterward.     They  then  took  \ 


*>  all  the  married  women  who  had  young 
children,  and  threatened,  if  they  did  not 
consent  to  the  gratification  of  their  lusts, 
to  burn  their  children  before  their  faces  in 
a  large  fire  which  they  had  kindled  for 
that  purpose. 

A  band  of  Count  Tilly's  soldiers  meet- 
ing with  a  company  of  merchants  belong- 
ing to  Basil,  who  were  returning  from  the 
great  market  of  Strasburg,  they  attempted 
to  surround  them  :  all  escaped,  however, 
but  ten,  leaving  their  properties  behind. 
The  teji  who  were  taken  begged  hard  for 
their  lives  ;  but  the  soldiers  murdered  them, 
saying,  "  You  must  die  because  you  are 
heretics,  and  have  got  no  money." 

The  same  soldiers  met  with  two  count- 
esses, who,  together  with  some  young  la 
dies,  the  daughters  of  one  of  them,  weie 
taking  an  airing  in  a  landau.  The  soldiers 
spared  their  lives,  but  treated  them  with 
great  indecency,  and  having  stripped  them, 

bade  the  coachman  drive  on. 

******* 

By  the  means  and  mediation  of  Great 
Britain,  peace  was  at  length  restored  to 
Germany,  and  the  protestants  remained  un- 
molested for  several  years,  till  some  new 
disturbances  broke  out  in  the  palatinate, 
which  were  thus  occasioned  : — 

The  great  church  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  at 
Heidelburg,  had  for  many  years  been 
equally  shared  by  the  protestants  and  Ro- 
man catholics,  in  this  manner :  the  protes- 
tants performed  divine  service  in  the  nave 
or  body  of  the  church,  and  the  Roman 
catholics  celebrated  mass  in  the  choir. 
Though  this  had  been  the  custom  time 
immemorial,  the  elector  palatine,  at  length, 
took  it  into  his  head  not  to  suffer  it  any 
longer,  declaring,  that  as  Heidelburg  was 
the  place  of  his  residence,  and  the  church 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  cathedral  of  his 
principal  city,  divine  service  ought  to  be 
performed  only  according  to  the  rites  of  the 
church  of  which  he  was  a  member.  He 
then  forbade  the  protestants  to  enter  the 
church,  and  put  the  papists  in  possession 
of  the  whole. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


119 


The    aggrieved   people    applied    to    the  5  reason,  as  he  well  knew  the  impossibility 

protestant  powers  for   redress,    which  so  ?  of  carrying  on  a  war  against  the  powerful 

much  exasperated  the  elector,  that  he  sup- 1  states  who  threatened  him.     He,  therefore, 

pressed   the  Heidelburg  catechism.     The  \  agreed,  that  the   use  of  the   body  of  the 

protestant  powers,  however,  unanimously  ?  church  of  the  Holy  Ghost  should  be  restor- 

agreed  to  demand  satisfaction,  as  the  elec-  \  ed  to   the  protestants.     He    restored    the 

tor,  by  this  conduct,  had   broke   an   article  \  Heidelburg  catechism,  put  the   protestant 

of  the  treaty  of  Westphalia;  and  the  courts    ministers    again    into    possession    of    the 

of   Great    Britain,  Prussia,  Holland,  &c,    churches  of  which  they  had  been  dispos- 

sent  deputies   to  the  elector,  to  represent  \  sessed,  allowed  the  protestants  to  work  on 

.  the   injustice   of  his    proceedings,  and  to    popish  holydays  ;  and  ordered,  that  no  per- 

|  threaten,  unless  he   changed  his  behavior  j  son  should   be  molested  for  not  kneeling 

\  to  the   protestants   in   the   palatinate,  that    when  the  host  passed  by. 

I  they  would  treat  their  Roman  catholic  sub-        These  things  he  did  through  fear ;  but  to 

J  jects   with    the    greatest    severity.     Many  i  show  his  resentment  to  his  protestant  sub- 

,'  violent   disputes   took   place   between   the  Ejects,  in  other  circumstances  where  protest- 

)  protestant  powers,  and  those  of  the  elector,  \  ant  states  had  no  right  to  interfere,  he  totally 

\  and  these  were  greatly  augmented  by  the  \  abandoned   Heidelburg,   removing    all   the 

i  following    accident:    The    coach     of    the  \  courts  of  justice  to  Manheim,  which  was 

J   Dutch   minister   standing  before  the  door  s  entirely    inhabited    by    Roman    catholics. 

J  of  the  resident  sent  by  the  prince  of  Hesse,  s  He    likewise    built    a   new   palace   there, 

i  the  host  was,  by  chance,  carrying  to  a  sick  \  making  it  his  place  of  residence  ;  and,  being 

>  person  ;  the  coachman  took  not  the  least  s  followed  by  the  Roman  catholics  of  Heidel- 
|  notice,  which  those  who  attended  the  host  s  burg,  Manheim  became  a  flourishing  place. 
\  observing,  pulled  him  from  his  box,  and  s  In  the  meantime  the  protestants  of 
\  compelled  him  to  kneel  :  the  violence  to  \  Heidelburg  sunk  into  poverty,  and  many 
'.  the  domestic  of  a  public  minister  was  high-  \  of  them  became  so  distressed,  as  to  quit 

ly  resented  by  all  the  protestant  deputies  ;  s  their  native  country,  and  seek  an  asylum 

and,  still  more  to  heighten  these  differen-    in  protestant  states      A  great  number  of 

/  ces,  the  protestants  presented  to  the  depu-  \  these  coming  into  England,  in  the  time  of 

>  ties  three  additional  articles  of  complaint.    >  Queen  Anne,  were  cordially  received,  and 

1.  That  military  executions  were  order-    met  with  a  most  humane  assistance,  both 

>  ed  against  all  protestant  shoemakers  who  i  by  public  and  private  donations. 

I  should  refuse  to  contribute  to  the  masses  of  ;>  In  1732,  about  thirty  thousand  protestants 
|  St.  Crispin.  I  were,  contrary  to  the  treaty  of  Westphalia, 

|       2.  That  the  protestants  were    forbid  to  I  driven  from  the  archbishopric  of  Saltzburg. 

>  work  on  popish  holydays,  even  in  harvest)  They  went  away  in  the  depth  of  winter, 
time,  under  very  heavy  penalties,  which  >  with  scarce  clothes  to  cover  them,  and  with- 
occasioned  great  inconveniences,  and  con- 1  out  provisions,  not  having  permission  to 
siderably  prejudiced  public  business.  /  take  anything  with  them.     The  cause  of 

3.  That  several  protestant  ministers  had  /  these  poor  people  not  being  publicly  espous- 
been  dispossessed  of  their  churches,  under  ?  ed  by  such  states  as  could  obtain  them  re- 
pretence   of  their  having  been   originally  ^  dress,  they  emigrated  to  various  protestant 
[  founded,  and  built  by  Roman  catholics.        ?  countries,  and  settled  in  places  where  they 
The  protestant  deputies,  at  length,  be-  \  could  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  their  reli- 
|  came  so  serious,  as  to  intimate  to  the  elec- 1  gion,  without  hurting  their  consciences,  and 
<  tor,  that  force  of  arms  should  compel  him  j  live  free  from  the  trammels  of  popish  super- 
(  to  do  the  justice  he  denied  to  their  repre-  \  stition,  and  the  chains  of  papal  tyranny. 
|  sentations.     This  menace  brought  him  to  \      At  the   Hague,   four  Dutch    clergymen 


120 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


suffered  death  for  turning  protestants,  after 
having  been  confined  for  a  very  consider- 
able space  of  time.  (See  engraving.) 
Their  names  were, 

Rev.  Arent  Vas. 

Rev.  Adrian  Jan. 

Rev.  Sybrand  Janson. 

Rev.  Walter  Simonson. 
They  were  first  publicly  declared  here- 

>  tics,  and  then   degraded.     The   ceremony 

>  of  degradation  was  performed  in  this  man- 
s  ner :  being  clad  in  sacerdotal  habits,  they 

>  were  brought  before  a  bishop,  and  two  ab- 
s  bots.     The  abbots  cut  off  some  of  their 

i  hair,  scraped  the  crowns  of  their  heads  with  j 
5  a  knife,  and  likewise  scraped  the  tips  of  I 
I  the  fingers,  with  which  they  had  made  the 
(  elevation   at   the   altar.     The  bishop  then  I 
^  pulled  off  their  habits,  saying,  "  I  strip  you  j 
\  of  the  robe  of  righteousness."     To  which  j 
I  one  of  the  clergymen  replied,  "  Not  so,  but 
rather  of  the  robe  of  unrighteousness  ;"  and  \ 
then  looking  sternly  at  the  bishop,  he  went  < 
on  thus  :  "  You  knew  the  truth  formerly 
yourself,  but  have  maliciously  rejected  it ;  \ 
but  you  must  give  an  account  of  your  actions  j 
at    the    day   of   judgment."      The    bishop ) 
trembled,  and  the  spectators  were  struck  • 
with  amazement,  as  the  person  who  uttered 
the  words  was  a  learned,  pious,  honest,  and 
venerable  man,  being  seventy  years  of  age. 
When  the  victims  were  delivered  over  to 
the  magistrate,  the  bishop  desired  him  to 


be  as  favorable  as  possible  to  them,  which 
ridiculous  affectation  of  kindness  occasion- 
ed the  clergyman  who  spoke  the  before- 
mentioned  words  to  exclaim  in  Latin, 
"  Quam  Pharisaice !"  implying,  "  How 
Pharisaical !"  or,  "  How  hypocritical  is 
such  behavior  !"  At  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, Adrian  Jan's  father  cried  out :  "  Dear 
son,  suffer  courageously,  a  crown  of  eternal 
life  is  prepared  for  you."  The  officers 
prevented  him  from  proceeding,  but  the 
martyr's  sister,  who  was  in  another  place 
among  the  crowd  of  spectators,  exclaimed 
with  a  loud  voice  :  "  Brother,  be  courage- 
ous ;  your  sufferings  will  not  last  long ;  the 
door  of  eternal  life  is  open  to  you."  They 
were  first  strangled,  and  then  burnt,  amidst 
the  lamentations  of  some  thousands  of 
spectators,  who  would  have  rescued  them 
but  for  the  Spanish  guards  ;  and  could  not 
but  severely  regret,  that  men  of  the  most 
unspotted  characters,  and  inoffensive  lives, 
should  be  put  to  violent  deaths,  only  for 
differing  in  opinion  from  their  persecu- 
tors. 

"  But  what  the  martyrs  here  sustain, 
Is  only  transitory  pain  : 
Tortures  just  felt,  and  quickly  o'er, 
That  when  once  past  torment  no  more  : 
While  heavenly  bliss  rewards  bestows, 
And  joys  eternal  heal  their  woes. 
But  what's  the  persecutor's  fate  ? 
The  stings  of  conscience,  heavenly  hate  ; 
A  dreaded  death  for  blood  that's  shed, 
With  horrors  planted  round  the  bed ; 
A  fate  in  endless  fire  to  dwell, 
A  lasting  residence  iu  hell." 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  LITHUANIA. 


.HE  persecutions  in  Lithu- 
ania began  in  1648, and; 
were    carried    on    with; 
great    severity    by    the 
Cossacks    and   Tartars. 
The  cruelty  of  the  Cos-i 

sacks  was  such,  that  even  the  Tartars,  at; 

last,  grew  ashamed  of  it,  and  rescued  some! 

of  the  intended  victims  from  their  hands. 


The  cruelties  exercised  were  these 
Skinning  alive. 
Cutting  off  hands. 
Taking  out  the  bowels. 
Cutting  the  flesh  open. 
Putting  out  the  eyes. 
Beheading. 
Scalping. 
Cutting  off  feet. 


FOUR    DUTCH    PROTESTANT    MINISTERS    BURNT.-^Page  121. 


i 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


123 


Boring  the  shin  bones. 

Pouring  melted  lead  into  the  flesh. 

Hanging. 

Stabbing,  and 

Sending  to  perpetual  banishment. 
The  Russians  taking  advantage  of  the 
devastations  which  had  been  made  in  the 
country,  and  of  its  incapability  of  defence, 
entered  it  with  a  considerable  army,  and, 
like  a  flood,  bore  down  all  before  them. 
Everything  they  met  was  an  object  of  de- 
struction ;  they  razed  cities,  demolished 
castles,  ruined  fortresses,  sacked  towns, 
burnt  villages,  and  murdered  people.  The 
ministers  of  the  gospel  were  peculiarly 
marked  out  as  the  objects  of  their  displeas- 
ure, though  every  worthy  Christian  was 
liable  to  the  effects  of  their  cruelty. 

Adrian  Chalinsky,  a  clergyman  vener- 
able for  his  age,  conspicuous  for  his  piety, 
and  eminent  for  his  learning,  was  suddenly 
seized  upon  in  his  own  house,  partially 
tried,  and  speedily  condemned.  Having 
his  hands  and  legs  tied  behind  him,  he  was 
roasted  alive  by  a  slow  fire,  only  a  few 
chips,  and  a  little  straw,  being  lighted  at  a 
time,  in  order  to  make  his  death  more 
lingering.     (See  engraving.) 

A  father  and  son,  named  Smolsky,  both 
ministers  near  Vilna,  had  their  heads  saw- 
ed off.  A  clergyman,  in  the  town  of  Haw- 
loczen,  named  Slawinskin,  was  cut  piece- 
meal by  slow  degrees.  Some  perished  by 
being  exposed,  during  the  frosty  season,  to 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather  :  many  were 
flayed  alive,  several  hacked  to  pieces,  and 
great  numbers  sent  into  slavery. 

As  Lithuania  recovered  itself  after  one 
persecution,  succeeding  enemies  again  de- 
stroyed it.  The  Swedes,  the  Prussians, 
and  the  Courlanders,  carried  fire  and 
sword  through  it,  and  continual  calamities, 
for  some  years,  attended  that  unhappy  dis- 
trict. It  was  then  attacked  by  the  prince 
of  Transylvania,  who  had  in  his  army,  ex- 
clusive of  his  own  Transylvanians,  Hun- 
garians, Moldavians,  Servians,  Walachians, 
&c.  These,  as  far  as  they  penetrated, 
wasted  the  country,  destroyed  the  churches, 


rifled  the  nobility,  burnt  the   houses,  en- 
slaved the  healthy,  and  murdered  the  sick. 

A  clergyman,  who  wrote  an  account  of 
the  misfortunes  of  Lithuania,  in  the  seven- 
teenth century,  says,  "  In  consideration  of 
these  extremities,  we  can  not  but  adore  the 
Judgment  of  God  poured  upon  us  for  our 
sins,  and  deplore  our  sad  condition.  Let 
us  hope  for  a  deliverance  from  his  mercy, 
and  wish  for  restitution  in  his  benevolence. 
Though  we  are  brought  low,  though  we 
are  wasted,  troubled,  and  terrified,  yet  his 
compassion  is  greater  than  our  calamities, 
and  his  goodness  superior  to  our  afflictions. 
Our  neighbors  hate  us  at  present,  as  much 
as  our  more  distant  enemies  did  before  : 
they  persecute  the  remnant  of  us  still  re- 
maining, deprive  us  of  our  few  churches 
left,  banish  our  preachers,  abuse  our  school- 
masters, treat  us  with  contempt,  and  op- 
press us  in  the  most  opprobrious  manner. 
In  all  our  afflictions  the  truth  of  the  gospel 
shone  among  us,  and  gave  us  comfort ;  and 
we  only  wished  for  the  grace  of  Jesus 
Christ  (not  only  to  ourselves,  but  to  soften 
the  hearts  of  our  enemies),  and  the  sym- 
pathy of  our  fellow  Christians." 

The  reflections  of  this  pious  minister, 
who  imputes  the  sufferings  of  the  Lithu- 
anian protestants  to  their  own  crimes,  in 
not  practising  the  truths  they  understood, 
and  conforming  to  the  gospel  which  they 
believed  ;  and  his  hopes  for  relief  from  the 
merits  of  Jesus  Christ  brings  to  our  recol- 
lection one  of  the  finest  pieces  of  poetry  in 
the  French  language,  called  the  Repentant 
Libertine,  by  Monsieur  Barreaux,  a  new 
translation  of  which  we  here  present  to  our  \ 
readers  : — 


"  Almighty  God  !  though  you,  as  mankind's  friend, 
Excuse  their  follies,  and  their  joys  extend, 
Yet  my  great  faults  thy  vengeance  must  demand, 
And  call  for  thunder  even  from  mercy's  hand  : 
Yes,  such  my  crimes,  such  my  offences  are, 
They  leave  not  justice  any  room  to  spare  ; 
Heaven's  interest  demands  I  should  not  live  ; 
Thy  clemency  itself  the  stroke  must  give. 
Strike  then  the  blow,  o'erwhelm  me  with  my  woes, 
Let  not  my  tears  thy  equity  oppose  : 
Then  thunders  roar,  and  forked  lightnings  blaze, 
In  perishing  the  avenging  hand  I'll  praise  ; 
For  wheresoever  thy  dreadful  thunders  fall, 
The  blood  of  Christ  redeems  me  from  them  all." 


124 


X 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  POLAND;  DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  CITY  OF  LESNA. 

T  has  been  the  fate  of  many  $  hazel-trees,  was  originally  a  village  in  Po- 
pious  people,  in  all  ages  of?  land,  on  the  confines  of  the  lower  Silesia, 
the  world,  to  bear  the  cross  ]  It  rose,  however,  to  the  dignity  of  a  city, 
of  Christ,  and  suffer  persecu-  >  and  became  both  populous  and  opulent, 
tions  on  account  of  their  opin-  \  Religion  was  here  reformed  by  the  illus- 
ions ;  for  those  who  are  born  j  trious  Andrew,  count  palatine  of  Bernstein, 
after  the  flesh  have  always  been  enemies  to  \  according  to  the  rights  of  the  Bohemian 
such  as  are  born  after  the  spirit.  \  confession  ;  and  so  well  accepted  were  the 

The  protestants  of  Poland  were  perse-  \  pure  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  that   Lesna 


cuted  in  a  dreadful  manner.  The  ministers 
in  particular  were  treated  with  the  most 
unexampled  barbarity  ;  some  having  their 
tongues  cut  out,  because  they  had  preached 
the  gospel  truths  ;  others  being  deprived 
of  their  sight,  on  account  of  having  read  the 
Bible ;  and  great  numbers  were  cut  to 
pieces,  for  not  recanting. 

Private  persons  were  put  to  death  by 
various  methods ;  the  most  cruel  being 
usually  preferred.  Women  were  murdered 
without  the  least  regard  to  their  sex  ;  and 
the  persecutors  even  went  so  far  as  to  cut 
off  the  heads  of  sucking  babes,  and  fasten 
them  to  the  breasts  of  their  mothers. 

Even  the  solemnity  of  the  grave  did  not 
exempt  the  bodies  of  protestants  from  the 
malice  of  persecutors  ;  for  they  sacrilegi- 
ously dug  up  the  bodies  of  many  eminent 
persons,  and  either  cut  them  to  pieces,  and 
exposed  them  to  be  devoured  by  birds  and 
beasts,  or  hung  them  up  in  conspicuous  and 
public  places. 

Among  the  devastations  made  by  the 
persecutions,  the  most  important  was  the 


became  a  kind  of  metropolis  for  protestant- 
ism in  that  part  of  the  country. 

At  the  time  of  the  Bohemian  persecu- 
tion, in  1620,  many  protestants  lied  to  Po- 
land, most  of  whom  settled  at  Lesna.  The 
number  of  these  was  greatly  increased  in 
A.  D.  1628  and  1629,  when  a  fierce  perse- 
cution raged  in  Bohemia  and  Silesia.  By 
the  addition  of  such  numbers  of  inhabitants, 
Lesna  became  so  considerable  as  to  have 
three  market-places,  four  churches,  above 
twenty  considerable  streets,  and  a  public 
seminary  of  learning. 

The  citizens  then  surrounded  the  city 
by  a  wall,  encompassed  it  with  a  trench, 
erected  gates  for  ornaments,  built  towers 
for  its  defence,  and  constructed  a  noble 
town-house  for  public  proceedings.  Hence 
Lesna  became  a  mart  of  trade,  a  seat  of 
politeness,  and  an  asylum  for  the  distressed  : 
religion  flourished,  manufactures  thrived, 
and  industry  was  encouraged. 

The  Roman  catholics  viewing  with  envy 
the  thriving  state  of  religion  in  Lesna, 
strove  to  injure  that  city  by  every  means 


|  destruction  of  the  noble  city  of  Lesna,  in  \  in  their  power.     Their  first  attack  was,  by 


Great  Poland.  A  particular  and  circum 
stantial  account  of  the  cruel  transactions 
attending  the  ruin  of  that  city,  having  been 
published  by  some  who  were  witnesses  of, 
and  materially  concerned  in  the  sufferings 
that  ensued,  we  shall  select  such  parts  of 
the  narrative  as  are  most  interesting  and  \ 


consonant  to  the  plan  of  our  work. 


several  accusations  laid  before  Sigismund, 
king  of  Poland,  suggesting,  that  "  Lesna 
was  a  confluence  for  men  of  all  nations,  a 
den  of  outlaws,  an  asylum  for  heretics,  and 
a  receptacle  of  traitors  to  the  king  and  gov- 
ernment." 

Luckily  the  king  disbelieved  the  calum- 
nies, and  thus  the  Roman  catholics  were 


I       Lesna,  which  word   implies  a  grove  of;  defeated  in  their  malicious  intentions. 


ADRIAN    CHALINSKY    ROASTED    ALIVE. — Pntre    125. 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


— m 

1271 


THE  RISE  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  INQUISITION  IN  SPAIN  AND  PORTUGAL. 


HEN  the  reformed 
religion  began  to 
diffuse  the  gospel 
light  throughout 
Europe,  Pope  In- 
nocent the  Third 
entertained  great  fear  for  the  Romish 
church.  Unwilling  that  the  spirit  of  free 
inquiry  should  gain  ground,  or  that  the 
people  should  attain  more  knowledge  than 
the  priests  were  willing  to  admit,  he  de- 
termined to  impede,  as  much  as  possible, 
the  progress  of  reformation.  He  accord- 
ingly instituted  a  number  of  inquisitors,  or 
persons  who  were  to  make  inquiry  after, 
apprehend,  and  punish  heretics,  as  the  re- 
formed were  called  by  the  papists. 

At  the  head  of  these  inquisitors  was  one 
Dominic,  who  had  been  canonized  by  the 
pope,  in  order  to  render  his  authority  the 
more  respectable.  Dominic,  and  the  other 
inquisitors,  spread  themselves  into  various 
Roman  catholic  countries,  and  treated  the 
protestants  with  the  utmost  severity.  In 
process  of  time,  the  pope  not  finding  these 
roving  inquisitors  so  useful  as  he  had  im- 
agined, resolved  upon  the  establishment  of 
fixed  and  regular  courts  of  inquisition. 
After  the  order  for  these  regular  courts,  the 
first  office  of  inquisition  was  established  in 
the  city  of  Thoulouse,  and  Dominic  became 
the  first  regular  inquisitor,  as  he  had  before 
been  the  first  roving  inquisitor. 

Courts  of  inquisition  were  now  erected 
in  several  countries  ;  but  the  Spanish  in- 
quisition became  the  most  powerful,  and 
the  most  dreaded  of  any.  Even  the  kings 
of  Spain  themselves,  though  arbitrary  in  all 
other  respects,  were  taught  to  dread  the 
power  of  the  lords  of  the  inquisition  ;  and 
the  horrid  cruelties  they  exercised  compel- 
led multitudes,  who  differed  in  opinion 
from  the  Roman  catholics,  carefully  to  con- 
ceal their  sentiments. 


The  most  zealous  of  all  the  popish 
monks,  and  those  who  most  implicitly 
obeyed  the  church  of  Rome,  were  the 
Dominicans  and  Franciscans  :  these,  there- 
fore, the  pope  thought  proper  to  invest  with 
an  exclusive  right  of  presiding  over,  and 
managing  the  different  courts  of  inquisition. 
The  friars  of  those  two  orders  were  always 
selected  from  the  very  dregs  of  the  people, 
and  therefore  were  not  troubled  with  punc- 
tilios of  honor :  they  were  obliged,  by  the 
rules  of  their  respective  orders,  to  lead  very 
austere  lives,  which  rendered  their  manners 
unsocial  and  brutish,  and,  of  course,  the 
better  qualified  them  for  the  employment 
of  inquisitors. 

The  pope  now  thought  proper  to  give 
the  inquisitors  the  most  unlimited  powers, 
as  judges  delegated  by  him,  and  immedi- 
ately representing  his  person :  they  were 
permitted  to  excommunicate,  or  sentence 
to  death,  whom  they  thought  proper,  upon 
the  most  slight  information  of  heresy. 
They  were  allowed  to  publish  crusades 
against  all  whom  they  deemed  heretics, 
and  enter  into  leagues  with  sovereign 
princes,  to  join  those  crusades  with  their 
forces. 

In  1244  their  powers  were  further  in- 
creased by  the  emperor  Frederic  the  Sec- 
ond, who  declared  himself  the  protector 
and  friend  of  all  inquisitors,  and  published 
two  very  cruel  edicts,  viz. : — 

1.  That  all  heretics,  who  continued  ob- 
stinate, should  be  burnt : 

2.  That  all  heretics,  who  repented, 
should  be  imprisoned  for  life. 

This  zeal  in  the  emperor  for  the  in- 
quisitors, and  the  Roman  catholic  persua- 
sion, arose  from  a  report  which  had  been 
propagated  throughout  Europe,  that  he  in- 
tended to  renounce  Christianity,  and  turn 
Mahometan ;  the  emperor,  therefore,  at- 
tempted, by  the  height  of  bigotry,  to  con- 


128 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


tradict  the  report,  and  to  show  his  attach- 
ment to  popery  by  cruelty. 

The  officers  of  the  inquisition  are  : — 

Three  inquisitors,  or  judges  ; 

A  fiscal  proctor ; 

Two  secretaries ; 

A  magistrate  ; 

A  messenger ; 

A  receiver  ; 

A  jailer  ; 

An  agent  of  confiscated  possessions  ; 

Several  assessors,  counsellors,  execu- 
tioners, physicians,  surgeons,  doorkeepers, 
familiars,  and  visiters,  who  are  all  sworn 
to  secrecy. 

The  principal  accusation  against  those 
who  are  subject  to  this  tribunal  is  heresy, 
which  comprises  all  that  is  spoken,  or 
written,  against  any  of  the  articles  of  the 
creed,  or  the  traditions  of  the  Romish 
church.  The  other  articles  of  accusation 
are,  renouncing  the  Roman  catholic  per- 
suasion, believing  that  persons  of  any  other 
religion  may  be  saved,  or  even  admitting 
that  the  tenets  of  any  but  papists  are,  in  the 
least,  reasonable  or  proper.  We  shall 
mention  two  other  things  which  incur  the 
most  severe  punishments,  and  show  the 
inquisitors,  at  once,  in  an  absurd  and  a 
tyrannical  light,  viz.  :  To  disapprove  of  any 
action  done  by  the  inquisition,  or  disbelieve 
anything  said  by  an  inquisitor. 

The  grand  article  heresy  comprises 
many  subdivisions  ;  and,  upon  a  suspicion 
of  any  of  these,  the  party  is  immediately 
apprehended  :  advancing  an  offensive  prop- 
osition ;  failing  to  impeach  others  who 
may  advance  such  contemning  church  cere- 
monies ;  defacing  idols  ;  reading  books  con- 
demned by  the  inquisition  ;  lending  such 
books  to  others  to  read  ;  deviating  from  the 
ordinary  practices  of  the  Romish  church; 
letting  a  year  pass  without  going  to  con- 
fession ;  eating  meat  on  fast-days  ;  neglect- 
ing mass  ;  being  present  at  a  sermon 
preached  by  a  heretic  ;  not  appearing  when 
summoned  by  the  inquisition  ;  lodging  in 
the  house  of,  contracting  a  friendship  with, 
or  making  a  present  to  a  heretic  ;  assisting 


a  heretic  to  escape  from  confinement,  or 
visiting  one  in  confinement,  are  all  matters 
of  suspicion,  and  prosecuted  accordingly. 
Nay,  all  Roman  catholics  were  commanded, 
under  pain  of  excommunication,  to  give  im- 
mediate information,  even  of  their  nearest 
and  dearest  friends,  if  they  judged  them  to 
be  what  was  called  heretics,  or  anywise 
inclined  to  heresy. 

Those  who  give  the  least  countenance 
or  assistance  to  protestants,  are  called  f (tu- 
tors, or  abettors  of  heresy,  and  the  accusa- 
tions against  these  usually  turn  upon  some 
of  the  following  points  :  comforting  such  as 
the  inquisition  have  begun  to  prosecute  ; 
assisting,  or  not  informing  against  such,  if 
they  should  happen  to  escape  ;  concealing, 
abetting,  advising,  or  furnishing  heretics 
with  money ;  visiting,  writing  to,  or  send- 
ing them  subsistence  ;  secreting,  or  burn- 
ing books  and  papers,  which  might  serve 
to  convict  them. 

The  inquisition  likewise  takes  cogni- 
zance of  such  as  are  accused  of  being 

Magicians  ;  Soothsayers  ; 

Witches  ;  Wizards  ; 

Blasphemers,        Common  swearers  : 
and  of  such  who  read,  or  even  possess  the 
Bible  in  the  common  language,  the  Talmud 
of  the  Jews,  or  the  Alcoran  of  the  Mahom- 
etans. 

Upon  all  occasions  the  inquisitors  carry 
on  their  processes  with  the  utmost  severity, 
and  punish  those  who  offend  them  with  the 
most  unparalleled  cruelty.  A  protestanl 
has  seldom  any  mercy  shown  him  ;  and  a 
Jew,  who  turns  Christian,  is  far  from  being 
secure  ;  for  if  he  is  known  to  keep  com- 
pany with  another  new-converted  Jew,  a 
suspicion  immediately  arises  that  they  pri- 
vately practise  together  some  Jewish  cere- 
monies ;  if  he  keeps  company  with  a  per- 
son who  was  lately  a  protestant,  but  now 
professes  popery,  they  are  accused  of  plot- 
ting together  ;  but  if  he  associates  with  a 
Roman  catholic,  an  accusation  is  often  laid 
against  him  for  only  pretending  to  be  a  pa- 
pist, and  the  consequence  is,  a  confiscation 
of  his  effects  as  a  punishment  for  his  in- 


BBS. 


SPANISH  INQUISITION — DIFFERENT    MODES    OF    TORTURE. Page  129. 


SN 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


131 


sincerity,  and  the  loss  of  his  life  if  he  com- 
plains of  ill  usage. 

A  defence  in  the  inquisition  is  of  little 
U3e  to  the  prisoner,  for  a  suspicion  only  is 
deemed  sufficient  cause  of  condemnation, 
and  the  greater  his  wealth  the  greater  his 
danger.  The  principal  part  of  the  inquisi- 
tors' cruelties  is  owing  to  their  rapacity  : 
they  destroy  the  life  to  possess  the  prop- 
erty ;  and,  under  the  pretence  of  zeal,  plun- 
der each  obnoxious  individual. 

A  prisoner  to  the  inquisitors  is  never  al- 
lowed to  see  the  face  of  his  accuser,  or  of 
the  witnesses  against  him,  but  every  method 
is  taken,  by  threats  and  tortures,  to  oblige 
him  to  accuse  himself,  and  by  that  means 
corroborate  their  evidence.  If  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  inquisition  is  not  fully  allowed, 
vengeance  is  denounced  against  such  as 
call  it  in  question  ;  or  if  any  of  its  officers 
are  opposed,  those  who  oppose  them  are 
almost  certain  to  be  sufferers  for  their  temer- 
ity ;  the  maxim  of  the  inquisition  being,  to 
strike  terror,  and  awe  those  who  are  the 
objects  of  its  power,  into  obedience.  High 
birth,  distinguished  rank,  great  dignity,  or 
eminent  employments,  are  no  protections  < 
from  its  severities  ;  and  the  lowest  officers  < 
of  the  inquisition  can  make  the  highest 
characters  tremble.  < 

Such  are  the  circumstances  which  sub-  i 
ject  a  person  to  the  rage  of  ihe  inquisition,  I 
and  the  modes  of  beginning  the  process  are 
foui  in  number. 

1.  To  proceed  by  imputation,  or  prose- 
cute on  common  report. 

2.  To  proceed  by  the  information  of  any 
indifferent  person  who  chooses  to  impeach 
another. 

3.  To  found  the  prosecution  on  the  in- 
formation of  those  spies  who  are  regularly 
retained  by  the  inquisition. 

4.  To  prosecute  on  the  confession  of  the 
prisoner  himself. 

When  a  prisoner  is  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  inquisition,  the  best  method  (un- 
less he  is  sure  of  escaping  by  flight)  is  im- 
mediately to  obey  the  summons  ;  for  though 
really  innocent,  the  least  delay  increases 


his  criminality  in  the  eye  of  the  inquisitors, 
as  one  of  their  maxims  is,  that  backward- 
ness to  appear  always  indicates  guilt  in  the 
person  summoned;  and  if  he  escapes,  it  is 
the  same  as  perpetual  banishment,  for 
should  such  ever  return,  the  most  cruel 
death  would  be  the  certain  consequence. 

The  inquisitors  never  forget  or  forgive ; 
length  of  time  can  not  efface  their  resent- 
ments ;  nor  can  the  humblest  concessions, 
or  most  liberal  presents,  obtain  a  pardon  : 
they  carry  the  desire  of  revenge  to  the 
grave,  and  would  have  both  the  property 
and  lives  of  those  who  have  offended  them. 
Hence,  when  a  person  once  accused  to  the 
inquisition,  after  escaping,  is  retaken,  he 
ought  seriously  to  prepare  himself  for  mar- 
tyrdom, and  arm  his  soul  against  the  fear 
of  death.  Every  person,  in  such  a  situa- 
tion, ought  to  be  composed  for  the  awful 
occasion,  without  expectation  of  remedy  ; 
and  to  adopt  similar  sentiments  to  the  fol- 
lowing, written  by  a  clergyman  for  such 
trying  occasions  :— 

"  How  shall  I  stand  the  test  of  fire, 
Or  in  the  flames  resign  my  breath  ! 
Lord  !  my  reluctant  soul  inspire, 
Raise  me  above  the  fear  of  death. 

"  Oh  !  what  a  worldly  mind  have  I,  . 
How  indolent,  how  free  from  care  ! 
In  sloth  and  carnal  ease  I  live, 
Averse  to  abstinence  and  prayer. 

"  What  if  the  sentence  now  should  pass, 
That  I  must  die  within  an  hour ! 
What  paleness  would  o'erspread  my  face, 
What  bitter  grief  my  heart  o'erpower. 

"  How  shall  my  pampered  body  bear 
The  fiery  furnace,  or  the  stake  ! 
Let  me  for  Jesus'  truth  declare, 
And  bid  defiance  to  the  rack. 

*•  Recover,  Lord,  my  strength,  before 
You  bring  ine  to  a  martyr's  death  ; 
Nor  let  me  death's  grim  rage  explore, 
Until  I  have  a  martyr's  faith." 

When  a  positive  accusation  is  given,  the 
inquisitors  direct  an  order  under  their  hands 
to  the  executioner,  who  takes  a  certain  num- 
ber of  familiars  with  him  to  assist  in  the 
execution.  The  calamity  of  a  man  under 
such  circumstances  can  scarce  be  descri- 
bed, he  being  probably  seized  when  sur- 
rounded by  his  family,  or  in  company  with 
his  friends.     Father,  son,   brother,  sister, 


H 


132 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


■a 


husband,  wife,  must  quietly  submit ;  none 
dare  resist  or  even  speak;  either  would 
subject  them  to  the  punishment  of  the  de- 
voted victim.  No  respite  is  allowed  to 
settle  the  most  important  affairs,  but  the 
prisoner  is  instantaneously  hurried  away. 

Hence  we  may  judge  how  critically  dan- 
gerous must  be  the  situation  of  persons  who 
reside  in  countries  where  there  is  an  in- 
quisitorial tribunal ;  and  how  carefully  cau- 
tious all  states  ought  to  be   who  are   not 
\  cursed  with  such  an  arbitrary  court,  to  pre- 
s  vent  its  introduction.     In  speaking  of  this 
'f  subject,    an    eloquent    author    pathetically 
\  says  :  "  How  horrid  a  scene  of  perfidy  and 
|  inhumanity?     What   kind    of    community 
5  must  that  be  whence  gratitude,  love,  and  a 
\  mutual  forbearance  with  regard  to  human 

>  frailties,  are  banished!  What  must  that 
|  tribunal  be  which  obliges  parents  not  only 
\  to  erase  from  their  minds  the  remembrance 
)  of  their  own  children,  to  extinguish  all  those 

>  keen  sensations  of  tenderness  and  affection 
I  wherewith  nature  inspires  them,  but  even 
|  to  extend  their  inhumanity  so  far  as  to  force 
|  them  to  commence  their  accusers,  and  con- 
/  sequently  to  become  the  cause  of  the  cruel- 

>  ties  inflicted  upon  them !  What  ideas 
•  ought  we  to  form  to  ourselves  of  a  tribunal, 
|  which  obliges  children  not  only  to  stifle 
?  every  soft  impulse  of  gratitude,  love,  and 
|  respect,  due  to  those  who  gave  them  birth, 
\  but  even  forces  them,  and  that  under  the  most 

vigorous  penalties,  to  be  spies  over  their 

(parents,  and  to  discover  to  a  set  of  merci- 
less inquisitors,  the  crimes,  the  errors,  and 
even  the  little  lapses  to  which  they  are  ex- 

>  posed  by  human  frailty  !  In  a  word,  a 
tribunal  which  will  not  permit  relations, 
when  imprisoned  in  its  horrid  dungeons,  to 
give  each  other  the  succors,  or  perform  the 
duties  which  religion  enjoins,  must  be  of 
an  infernal  stamp.  What  disorder  and  con- 
fusion must  such  conduct  give  rise  to,  in  a 
tenderly  affectionate  family !  An  expres- 
sion innocent  in  itself,  and  perhaps,  but  too 
true,  shall,  from  an  indiscreet  zeal,  or  a 
panic  fear,  give  infinite  uneasiness  to  a 
family  ;  shall  ruin  its  peace  entirely,  and 


perhaps  cause  one  or  more  of  its  members 
to  be  the  innocent  unhappy  victims  of  the 
most  barbarous  of  all  tribunals.  What  dis- 
tractions must  necessarily  break  forth  in  a 
house  where  the  husband  and  wife  are  at 
variance,  or  the  children  loose  and  wicked  ! 
Will  such  children  scruple  to  sacrifice  a 
father,  who  endeavors  to  restrain  them  by 
his  exhortations,  by  reproofs,  or  paternal 
corrections  ?  Will  not  they  rather,  after 
plundering  his  house  to  support  their  ex- 
travagance and  riot,  readily  deliver  up  their 
unhappy  parent  to  all  the  horrors  of  a  tri- 
bunal, founded  on  the  blackest  injustice? 
A  riotous  husband,  or  a  loose  wife,  have  an 
easy  opportunity,  assisted  by  means  of  the 
persecutions  in  question,  to  rid  themselves 
of  one  who  is  a  check  to  their  vices,  by 
delivering  him  or  her  up  to  the  rigors  of 
the  inquisition." 

When  the  inquisitors  have  taken  umbrage 
against  an  innocent  person,  all  expedients 
are  used  to  facilitate  condemnation  ;  false 
oaths  and  testimonies,  founded  on  perjury, 
are  directed  by  the  virulence  of  prejudice 
to  find  the  accused  guilty  ;  and  all  laws 
divine  and  human,  all  institutions,  moral 
and  political,  are  sacrificed  to  bigoted  re- 
venge. 

When  a  person  accused  is  taken,  and 
imprisoned,  his  treatment  is  deplorable  in- 
deed. The  jailers  first  begin  by  searching 
him  for  books  or  papers  which  may  tend  to 
his  conviction,  or  for  instruments  which 
might  be  employed  in  self-murder,  or  break- 
ing from  the  place  of  confinement.  But  it 
is  to  be  observed,  that  the  obvious  articles  of 
the  search  are  not  the  only  things  taken  from 
a  prisoner;  but  the  conscientious  jailers 
make  free  with  money,  rings,  buckles,  ap- 
parel, &c,  under  various  pretences,  such 
as,  that  money  or  rings  may  be  swallowed, 
to  the  great  detriment  of  the  prisoner's 
health  ;  the  prongs  of  buckles  may  be  used 
to  take  away  life  ;  by  means  of  a  neckcloth 
or  a  pair  of  garters  a  prisoner  may  hang 
himself,  &c.  Then  he  is  robbed  under 
the  plausible  pretext  of  humanity,  and  used 
ill  through  pretended  tenderness. 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


133 


-m 


When  the  prisoner  has  been  searched  S  many  things  concealed,  and  therefore  must 
under  the  name  of  care,  and  robbed  beneath  >  be  remanded  to  your  dungeon."  When  those 
the   mask  of  justice,   he   is  committed  to  j  who  stood  mute  are  called  for  re-examina-  \ 
prison  by  way  of  security.     "  Here,"  says  l  lion,  if  they  continue  silent,  such  tortures 
an  authentic  writer,  "he  is  conveyed  to  a  t  are  ordered  as  will  either  make  them  speak, 
dungeon,  the  sight  of  which  must  fill  him  /  or  kill  them  ;  and  when  those  who  proclaim 
with    horror,    torn    from    his    family    and  '/  their  innocence  are  re-examined,  a  crucifix 
friends,   who  are   not   allowed   access,   or  j  is  held  before  them,  and  they  are  solemnly 
even  to  send  him  one  consolatory  letter,  or  l  exhorted  to  take  an  oath  of  their  confession 
take  the  least  step  in  his  favor  in  order  to  '.  of  faith.     This  brings  them  to  the  test,  they  i 
prove  his  innocence.     He  sees  himself  in- j  must  either  swear  they  are  Roman  catholics,  \ 
stantly  abandoned  to  his  inflexible  judges,  j  or  acknowledge  they  are  not.     If  they  ac-  < 
to  melancholy  and  despair,  and  even  often  i  knowledge  they  are  not  Roman   catholics  J 
to   his  most  inveterate  enemies,  quite  un-  <  they  are  proceeded  against  as  heretics.     If  ) 
certain  of  his  fate.     Innocence  on  such  an  I  they  acknowledge  they  are  Roman  catho-  < 
occasion  is  a   weak  reed,  nothing   being  i  lies,   a    string   of  accusations    is    brought  £ 
easier  than  to  ruin  an  innocent  person."       j  against  them,  to  which  they  are  obliged  to  \ 

Death  is  usually  the  portion  of  a  prison-  >  answer  extempore,  no  time  being  given  s 
er,  the  mildest  sentence  being  imprison-  even  to  put  their  answer  into  proper  method,  s 
ment  for  life  ;  yet  the  inquisitors  proceed  i  After  they  have  verbally  answered,  pen,  s 
by  degrees,  at  once  subtle,  slow,  and  cruel.  <  ink,  and  paper,  are  given  them,  in  order  to  s 
The  jailer  first  of  all  insinuates  himself  i  produce  a  written  answer,  which  it  is  re- 
into  the  prisoner's  favor,  by  pretending  to  <;  quired  shall  in  every  degree  coincide  with  5 
wish  him  well,  and  advise  him  well,  and,  <  the  verbal  answer.  If  the  verbal  and  the  j 
among  other  hints  falsely  kind,  tells  him  j  written  answer,  differ,  the  prisoners  are  > 
to  petition  for  a  hearing.  I  charged  with  prevarication,  if  one  contains  I 

This  is  the  worst  thing  a  prisoner  can  I  more  than  the  other  with  wishing  to  con-  \ 
do,  for  the  mere  petition  is  deemed  a  sup-  \  ceal  certain  circumstances  ;  if  they  both  > 
position  of  guilt,  and  he  is  persuaded  to  it )  agree,  they  are  accused  with  premeditated  \ 
only  with  a  view  to  entrap  him.     When  I  artifice.  \ 

he  is  brought  before  the  consistory,  the  first  $ 
demand  is,  "  What  is  your  request  ?" 

The  prisoner  very  naturally  answers  that  \ 
he  would  have  a  hearing. 

One  of  the  inquisitors  replies,  "Your  hear-  \ 
ing    is    this — confess    the    truth— conceal  j      When    the    person    impeached    is    con- 
nothing,  and  rely  on  our  mercy."  demned,   he   is   either   severely   whipped, 

If  the  prisoner  makes  a  confession  of  any  violently  tortured,  sent  to  the  galleys,  or 
trifling  affair,  they  immediately  found  an  in-  \  sentenced  to  death  ;  and  in  either  case  the 
dictment  on  it :  if  he  is  mute,  they  shut  him  5  effects  are  confiscated.  After  judgment  a 
up  without  light,  or  any  food  but  a  scanty  procession  is  performed  to  the  place  of 
allowance  of  bread  and  water  till  he  over-  execution,  which  ceremony  is  called,  an 
comes  his  obstinacy,  as  they  call  it ;  and  auto-da-fe,  or  act  of  faith, 
if  he  declares  he  is  innocent,  they  torment?  The  following  is  an  account  of  an  auto- 
him,  till  he  either  dies  with  the  torment,  or  da-fe,  performed  at  Madrid  in  the  year  1682: 
confesses  himself  guilty.  j  The   officers  of  the   inquisition,   preceded 

Upon  the  re-examinations  of  such  as  con-  j  by  trumpets,  kettle-drums,  and  their  banner, 
fess,  they  continually  say  :  "  You  have  not  I  marched,  on  the  30th  of  May,  in  cavalcade, 
been   sincere,  you  tell  not  all — you  keep  \  to  the  palace  of  the  great  square,  where 


"  But  to  condemn,  beneath  their  laws, 
Reason  and  truth  are  turned  to  flaws  ; 
Sincerity  is  forced  to  'bey 
The  inquisition's  tyrant  sway  ; 
Where  void  of  justice  or  of  might, 
The  weak  submit  to  lawless  might." 


*- 


134 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


they  declared  by  proclamation,  that  on  the 
30th  of  June  the  sentence  of  the  prisoners 
would  be  put  in  execution. 

There  had  not  been  a  spectacle  of  this 
kind  at  Madrid  for  several  years  before,  for 
which  reason  it  was  expected  by  the  in- 
habitants with  as  much  impatience  as  a  day 
of  the  greatest  festivity. 

On  the  day  appointed,  a  prodigious  num- 
ber of  people  appeared  dressed  as  splendid 
as  their  respective  circumstances  would 
admit.  In  the  great  square  was  raised  a 
high  scaffold  ;  and  thither,  from  seven  in 
the  morning  till  the  evening,  were  brought 
criminals  of  both  sexes  ;  all  the  inquisitions 
in  the  kingdom  sending  their  prisoners  to 
Madrid. 

Of  these  prisoners  twenty  men  and 
women,  with  one  renegado  Mahometan, 
}  were  ordered  to  be  burned  ;  fifty  Jews  and 
|  Jewesses,  having  never  before  been  im- 
\  prisoned,  and  repenting  of  their  crimes, 
|  were  sentenced  to  a  long  confinement,  and 
|  to  wear  a  yellow  cap  ;   and  ten  others,  in- 

<  dieted  for  bigamy,  witchcraft,  and  other 
|  crimes,  were  sentenced  to  be  whipped,  and 
$  then  sent  to  the  galleys  :  these  last  wore 

<  large  paste-board  caps,  with  inscriptions 
\  on  them,  having  a  halter  about  their  necks, 
$  and  torches  in  their  hands. 

<  The  whole  court  of  Spain  was  present 
s  on  this  occasion.  The  grand  inquisitor's 
i  chair  was  placed  in  a  sort  of  tribunal  far 
I  above  that  of  the  king.  The  nobles  here 
I  acted  the  part  of  the  sheriff's  officers  in 
I  England,  leading  such  criminals  as  were 
\  to  be  burned,  and  holding  them  when  fast 
\  bound  with  thick  cords  :  the  rest  of  the 
]  criminals  were  conducted  by  the  familiars 
1  of  the  inquisition. 

I       Among  those  who  were  to  suffer  was  a 

>  young  Jewess  of  exquisite  beauty,  and  but 

<  seventeen  years  of  age.  Being  on  the  same 
\  side  of  the  scaffold  where  the  queen  was 

>  seated,  she  addressed  her,  in  hopes  of  ob- 

>  taining  a  pardon,  in  the  following  pathetic 
\  speech  :  "  Great  queen  !  will  not  your  royal 
\  presence  be  of  some  service  to  me  in  my 
|  miserable  condition  ?     Have  regard  to  my 

m 


youth :  and,  oh  !  consider,  that  I  am  about 
to  die  for  professing  a  religion  imbibed 
from  my  earliest  infancy !"  Her  majesty 
seemed  greatly  to  pity  her  distress,  but 
turned  away  her  eyes,  as  she  did  not  dare 
to  speak  a  word  in  behalf  of  a  person  who 
had  been  declared  a  heretic. 

Now  mass  began,  in  the  midst  of  which 
the  priest  came  from  the  altar,  placed  near 
the  scaffold,  and  seated  himself  in  a  chair 
prepared  for  that  purpose. 

The  chief  inquisitor  then  descended  from 
the  amphitheatre,  dressed  in  his  cope,  and 
having  a  mitre  on  his  head.  After  bow- 
ing to  the  altar,  he  advanced  toward  the 
king's  balcony,  and  went  up  to  it,  attended 
by  some  of  his  officers,  carrying  a  cross 
and  the  gospels,  with  a  book  containing  the 
oath  by  which  the  kings  of  Spain  oblige 
themselves  to  protect  the  catholic  faith,  to 
extirpate  heretics,  and  support,  with  all 
their  power,  the  prosecutions  and  decrees 
of  the  inquisition.  I 

On  the  inquisitor's  approach,  and   pre-  ) 
senting  this  book  to  the  king,  his  majesty  \ 
rose  up,  bare-headed,  and  swore  to  main-  j 
tain  the  oath,  which  was  read  to  him  by  ? 
one   of  his   counsellors  :  after   which   the 
king  continued  standing  till  the  inquisitor 
was  returned  to  his  place  ;  when  the  secre- 
tary of  the  holy  office  mounted  a  sort  of 
pulpit,  and  administered  the  like  oath  to  the 
counsellors  and  the  whole  assembly.     The 
mass  was  begun  about  twelve  at  noon,  and 
did  not  end  till  nine  in  the  evening,  being 
protracted  by  a  proclamation  of  the  senten- 
ces of  the  several  criminals,  which  were 
all   separately  rehearsed  aloud    one    after 
the  other. 

After  this,  followed  the  burning  of  the 
twenty-one  men  and  women,  whose  in- 
trepidity in  suffering  that  horrid  death  was  I 
truly  astonishing :  some  thrust  their  hands  > 
and  feet  into  the  flames  with  the  most  j 
dauntless  fortitude  ;  and  all  of  them  yielded  j 
to  their  fate  with  such  resolution,  that  many  \ 
of  the  amazed  spectators  lamented  that  such  > 
heroic  souls  had  not  been  more  enlightened.  j 

The  king's  near  situation  to  the  criminals  \ 

n 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


135 


rendered  their  dying  groans  very  audible 
to  him  :  he  could  not,  however,  be  absent 
from  this  dreadful  scene,  as  it  is  esteemed 
a  religious  one  ;  and  his  coronation  oath 
obliges  him  to  give  a  sanction  by  his  pres- 
ence to  all  the  acts  of  the  tribunal. 

Another  auto-da-fe  is  thus  described  by 
the  Reverend  Doctor  Gedde  :  "  At  the 
place  of  execution  there  are  so  many  stakes 
set  as  there  are  prisoners  to  be  burned,  a 
large  quantity  of  dry  furze  being  set  about 
them. 

"  The  stakes  of  the  protestants,  or,  as  the 
inquisitors  call  them,  the  professed,  are 
about  four  yards  high,  and  have  each  a 
small  board,  whereon  the  prisoner  is  to  be 
seated  within  half  a  yard  of  the  top.  The 
professed  then  go  up  a  ladder  between  two 
priests,  who  attend  them  the  whole  day  of 
execution.  When  they  come  even  with 
the  forementioned  board,  they  turn  about 
to  the  people,  and  the  priests  spend  near  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  in  exhorting  them  to  be 
reconciled  to  the  see  of  Rome.  On  their 
refusing,  the  priests  come  down,  and  the 
executioner  ascending,  turns  the  professed 
from  off  the  ladder  upon  the  seat,  chains 
their  bodies  close  to  the  stakes,  and  leaves 
them. 

"  The  priests  then  go  up  a  second  time  to 
renew  their  exhortations,  and  if  they  find 
them  ineffectual,  usually  tell  them  at  part- 
ing that  they  leave  them  to  the  devil, 
who  is  standing  at  their  elbow  ready  to  re- 
ceive their  souls,  and  carry  them  with  him 
into  the  flames  of  hell  fire,  as  soon  as  they 
are  out  of  their  bodies. 

"  A  general  shout  is  then  raised,  and  when 
the  priests  get  off'  the  ladder,  the  universal 
cry  is :  '  Let  the  dog's  beards  be  made' 
(which  implies,  singe  their  beards).  This  is 
accordingly  performed  by  means  of  flaming 
furzes  thrust  against  their  faces  with  long 
poles. 

"  This  barbarity  is  repeated  till  their  faces 
are  burnt,  and  is  accompanied  with  loud 
acclamations.  Fire  is  then  set  to  the 
furzes,  and  the  criminals  are  consumed." 

Numerous  are   the    martyrs    who   have 


borne  these  rigors  with  the  most  exemplary 
fortitude ;  and  we  hope  that  every  protestant, 
whose  fate  may  expose  him  to  the  merciless 
tyranny  of  papists,  will  act  consistent  with 
the  duty  of  a  Christian,  when  they  consider 
the  great  rewards  that  await  them. 

"  How  great  the  Christian's  portion  is, 
What  heaps  of  joy,  what  worlds  of  bliss, 

The  Lord  for  them  prepares  ; 
Their  boundless  treasures  who  can  know, 
For  all  above,  and  all  below, 

And  God  and  Christ  is  theirs. 

*  There's  nothing  round  the  heavenly  throne, 
But  what  the  saints  may  call  their  own, 

And  at  their  pleasure  use  ; 
The  angels  who  excel  in  praise, 
Attend  and  guard  them  in  their  ways, 

Lest  they  their  feet  should  bruise. 

"  The  hand  of  God  supplies  their  wants, 
And  supersedes  their  deep  complaints, 

With  mercies  still  renewed  ; 
Though  they  are  hurried  up  and  down, 
And  through  a  sea  of  troubles  run, 

Yet  all  things  work  for  good. 

"  Jesus  and  all  in  him  is  theirs, 
They  are  adopted  sons  and  heirs 

Of  God,  through  grace  divine  ; 
Their  sins  are  pardoned  in  his  blood, 
And  with  his  righteousness  endowed. 

How  glorious  do  they  shine. 

"  Why  do  we  talk  of  earthly  things, 
The  wealth  of  empires,  crowns  of  kings, 

Fine  robes,  or  large  estates  ; 
Can  crowns  and  empires  be  compared 
To  that  exceeding  great  reward 

Which  Christian  virtue  waits  ?" 

What  we  have  alread)r  said  may  be  ap- 
plied to  inquisitions  in  general,  as  well  as 
to  that  of  Spain  in  particular.  The  inquisi- 
tion belonging  to  Portugal  is  exactly  upon 
a  similar  plan  to  that  of  Spain,  having  been 
instituted  much  about  the  same  time,  and 
put  under  the  same  regulations,  and  the 
proceedings  nearly  resemble  each  other  ; 
we  shall  therefore  introduce  an  account  of 
it  in  this  place.  The  house  or  rather  palace 
of  the  inquisition,  is  a  noble  edifice.  It 
contains  four  courts,  each  about  forty  feet 
square,  round  which  are  about  three  hundred 
dungeons,  or  cells. 

The  dungeons  on  the  ground  floor  are 
allotted  to  the  lowest  class  of  prisoners,  and 
those  on  the  second  story  to  persons  of 
superior  rank.  The  galleries  are  built  of 
freestone,  and  hid  from  view  both  within 
and  without  by  a  double  wall  of  about  fifty 


136 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


feet    high,    which    greatly   increases    the 
gloom,  and  darkens  them  exceedingly. 

The  whole  prison  is  so  extensive,  and 
contains  so  many  turning  and  windings, 
that  none  but  those  well  acquainted  with  it 
can  find  the  way  through  its  various  avenues,. 
The  apartments  of  the  chief  inquisitor  are 
spacious,  and  elegant  ;  the  entrance  is 
through  a  large  gate,  which  leads  into  a 
court-yard,  round  which  are  several  cham- 
bers, and  some  large  saloons  for  the  king, 
royal  family,  and  rest  of  the  court  to  stand  and 
observe  the  executions  during  an  auto-da-fe. 

With  respect  to  the  dungeons  where  the 
prisoners  are  confined,  they  are  not  only 
gloomy  in  themselves,  but  as  miserably 
furnished  as  can  be  imagined ;  the  only 
accommodation  being  a  frame  of  wood  by 
way  of  bedstead,  and  a  straw  bed,  mattrass, 
blankets,  sheets,  an  urinal,  wash-hand 
I  basins,  two  pitchers,  one  for  clean,  the 
}  other  for  foul  water,  a  lamp  and  a  plate. 

A    testoon,   or    seven-pence    halfpenny 
English  money,  is  allowed  every  prisoner 
daily  ;  and  the  principal  jailer,  accompanied 
by  two  other  officers,  monthly   visits  every 
prisoner,  to  inquire  how  he  would  have  his 
allowance  laid  out.     This  visit,  however, 
is  only  a  matter  of  form,  for  the  jailer  usual- 
ly lays  out  the  money  as  he  pleases,  and 
commonly  allows  the  prisoner  daily — 
A  porringer  of  broth  ; 
Half  a  pound  of  beef; 
A  small  piece  of  bread  ; 
A  trifling  portion  of  cheese. 

The  above  articles  are  charged  to  the 
prisoner  at  the  rate  of  seventeen  testoons 
in  the  month  ;  four  are  allowed  for  brandy, 
or  wine  ;  two  for  fruit,  making  in  the  whole 
twenty-three  ;  and  the  rest  of  the  money, 
to  make  up  the  number  of  testoons  for  the 
month,  are  scandalously  sunk  in  the  articles 
of  sugar  and  soap. 

Some,  who  find  their  allowance  too  little, 
petition  the  lords  inquisitors  for  a  greater 
portion,  when  the  petition  is  frequently 
granted  ;  and  in  this  particular  the  only 
mark  of  humanity  has  been  casually 
shown  :    in   all    other  circumstances   they 


are  inhuman,  cruel,  and  severe.  They  not 
only  exclude  the  prisoners  from  every  in- 
tercourse with  their  relations  or  friends, 
make  them  suffer  every  inclemency  of  a 
jail,  or  torture  them  in  confinement,  but 
even  prohibit  them  from  making  the  least 
noise  by  speaking  aloud,  singing  psalms  or 
hymns,  exclaiming,  or  even  uttering  the 
sighs  which  affliction  naturally  heaves  from 
the  breast. 

Guards  walk  about  continually  to  listen  ; 
if  the  least  noise  is  heard  they  call  to,  and 
threaten  the  prisoner  ;  if  the  noise  is  re- 
peated, a  severe  beating  ensues,  as  a  pun- 
ishment to  what  is  deemed  the  offending 
party,  and  to  intimidate  others.  As  an 
instance  of  this  take  the  following  fact :  a 
prisoner  having  a  violent  cough,  one  of  the 
guards  came  and  ordered  him  not  to  make 
a  noise  ;  to  which  he  replied,  that  from  the 
violence  of  his  cold,  it  was  not  in  his 
power  to  forbear.  The  cough  increasing, 
the  guard  went  into  the  cell,  stripped  the 
poor  creature  naked,  and  beat  him  so  un- 
mercifully, that  he  soon  after  died  of  the 
blows. 

This  enforced  silence  prevents  the  prison- 
ers from  receiving  any  consolation,  by  con- 
versing and  condoling  with  each  other : 
some,  indeed,  who  were  lodged  in  contigu- 
ous cells,  have  contrived  to  make  holes  in 
the  partition,  and  communicate  their  thoughts 
through  them  ;  but  as  soon  as  this  was  dis- 
covered, they  were  removed  to  cells,  at  a 
greater  distance  from  each  other. 

In  this  inquisition,  as  in  that  of  Spain, 
if  the  prisoners  plead  their  innocence,  they 
are  condemned  as  obdurate,  and  their  effects 
embezzled ;  if  they  plead  guilty,  they  are 
sentenced  on  their  own  confession,  and 
their  effects  confiscated  of  course  ;  and  if  } 
they  are  suffered  to  escape  with  their  lives  j 
(which  is  but  seldom  the  case)  as  penitent 
criminals  who  have  voluntarily  accused 
themselves,  they  dare  not  reclaim  their 
effects,  as  that  would  bring  on  them  an 
accusation  of  being  hypocritical  and  relax- 
ed penitents,  when  a  most  cruel  death 
would  be  the  certain  consequence. 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


137 


A  prisoner  sometimes  passes  months  j  exhausted  to  draw  some  secret  from  him. 
without  knowing  of  what  he  is  accused,  or  I  But  if  he  accuses  himself  of  any  crimes  or 
having  the  least  idea  of  when  he  is  to  be  <  follies,  they  are  written  down  by  the  secre- 
tried.  The  jailer  at  length  informs  him,  <  tary,  and  a  process  extracted  from  them, 
that  he  must  petition  for  a  trial.  This  \  The  inquisitors  often  overreach  prisoners, 
ceremony  being  gone  through,  he  is  taken  \  by  promising  the  greatest  lenity,  and  even 
bareheaded  for  examination.  When  they  s  to  restore  their  liberty,  if  they  will  accuse 
come  to  the  door  of  the  tribunal,  the  jailer  j  themselves.  The  unhappy  persons,  who 
knocks  three  times,  to  give  the  judges  no-  \  are  in  their  power,  frequently  fall  into  this 
tice  of  their  approach.  A  bell  is  rung  by  I  snare,  and  are  sacrificed  to  their  own  sim- 
one  of  the  judges,  when  an  attendant  opens  s  plicity,and  ill-placed  confidence.  Instances 
the  door,  admits  the  prisoner,  and  accom-  I  have  been  known  of  some,  who  relying  on 
modates  him  with  a  stool.  I  the  faith  of  the  judges,  and  believing  their 

The  prisoner  is  then  ordered  by  the  \  fallacious  promises,  have  accused  them- 
president  to  kneel  down,  and  lay  his  right  s  selves  of  what  they  were  totally  innocent, 
hand  upon  a  book,  which  is  presented  to  s  in  expectation  of  obtaining  their  liberty 
him  close  shut.  This  being  complied  with,  s  speedily  ;  and  thus,  being  duped  by  the 
the  following  question  is  put  to  him  :  "  Will  s  inquisitors,  they  became  martyrs  to  their 
you  promise  to  conceal  the  secrets  of  the  I  own  folly,  and  suffer  death  for  fictitious 
holy  office,  and  to  speak  the  truth  ?"  s  transgressions. 

If  he  answers  in  the  negative,  he  is  re-  I  Another  artifice  used  by  the  inquisitors 
■  manded  to  his  cell,  and  cruelly  treated.  5  is  this  :  if  a  prisoner  has  too  much  resolu- 
If  he  answers  in  the  affirmative,  he  is  5  tion  to  accuse  himself,  and  too  much  sense 
ordered  to  be  again  seated,  and  the  ex-  <  to  be  ensnared  by  their  sophistry,  they  pro- 
amination  proceeds  ;  when  the  president  ceed  thus  :  a  copy  of  an  indictment  against 
asks  a  variety  of  questions,  and  the  clerk  j  the  prisoner  is  given  him,  in  which,  among 
minutes  both  them  and  the  answers.  <  many  trivial  accusations,  he  is  charged  with 

After  the  examination  is  closed  the  bell  j  the  most  enormous  crimes,  of  which  human 
is  again  rung,  the  jailer  appears,  and  the  \  nature  is  capable.  This,  of  course,  rouses 
prisoner  is  ordered  to  withdraw,  with  this  i  his  temper,  and  he  exclaims  against  such 
exhortation  :  "  Tax  your  memory,  recollect  falsities.  He  is  then  asked  which  of  the 
all  the  sins  you  have  ever  committed,  and  j  crimes  he  can  deny'  He  naturally  singles 
when  you  are  again  brought  here,  com- 1  out  the  most  atrocious,  and  begins  to  ex- 
municate  them  to  the  holy  office."  \  press   his   abhorrence   of  them,  when   the 

The  jailers  and  attendants  being  ap-  \  indictment  being  snatched  out  of  his  hand, 
prized  that  the  prisoner  hath  made  an  in-  j  the  president  says:  "By  your  denying  only 
genuous  confession,  and  readily  answered  \  those  crimes  which  you  mention,  you  im- 
every  question,  make  him  a  low  bow,  and  I  plicitly  confess  the  rest,  and  we  shall  there- 
treat  him  with  an  affected  kindness,  as  a  \  fore  proceed  accordingly." 
reward  for  his  candor.  The  inquisitors  make  a  ridiculous  affec- 

In  a  few  days  he  is  brought  to  a  second  tation  of  equity,  by  pretending  that  the 
examination,  with  the  same  formalities  as  prisoner  may  be  indulged  with  a  counsellor, 
before.  It  is  then  demanded  of  him,  if  he  j  if  he  chooses  to  demand  one.  Such  a  re- 
has  taken  a  serious  review  of  his  past  life,  quest  is  sometimes  made,  and  a  counsellor 
and  will  divulge  its  various  secrets,  and  j  appointed,  but  upon  these  occasions,  as  jhe 
the  crimes  and  follies  into  which  he  has  trial  itself  is  a  mockery  of  justice,  so  the 
rin  at  different  tiVnes.  If  he  refuses  to  j  counsellor  is  a  mere  cipher ;  for  he  is  not 
confess  anything,  many  ensnaring  questions  \  permitted  to  say  anything  that  might  offend 
are  put  to  him,  and  the  arts  of  casuistry  are  ;  the  inquisitor,  or  to  advance  a  syllable  that 


138 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


might  benefit  the  prisoner.  Amazing  prof- 
ligacy, to  turn  that  to  a  farce  which  ought 
to  be  reverenced  as  a  superior  virtue. 

"  Of  all  the  virtues  justice  is  the  best, 
Valor  without  it  is  a  common  pest ; 
Pirates  and  thieves  too  oft  with  courage  graced, 
Show  us  how  ill  that  virtue  may  be  placed  ; 
'Tis  our  complexion  makes  us  chaste,  or  brave, 
Justice  from  reason  and  from  heaven  we  have  ; 
All  other  virtues  dwell  but  in  the  blood, 
That  in  the  soul,  and  gives  the  name  of  good." 

From  what  has  been  said,  it  is  evident, 
that  a  prisoner  to  the  inquisitors  is  reduced 
to  the  sad  necessity  of  defending  himself 
against  accusers  he  does  not  know,  and  of 
answering  to  the  evidence  of  witnesses  he 
must  not  see.  The  only  person  he  is  per- 
mitted to  have  a  sight  of  upon  his  trial,  ex- 
clusive of  the  judges  and  secretary,  is  the 
fiscal,  who  acts  officially  as  the  ostensible 
\  accuser,  from  the  collected  information  of 
\  others.  A  desire  of  being  informed  of  the 
\  real   accuser's  name,  or  to  see  the  actual 

<  witnesses  avails  nothing,  those  things  he  is 
|  told  are  always  kept  secret.  Thus  is  he 
|  continued  in  suspense  respecting  his  fate, 
{  and  frequently  interrogated,  perhaps,  for 
)  years  together,  before   his  trial    is   finally 

concluded.     When  that  fatal   time  comes, 
if  he  is  condemned  to  die,  death  is  deferred 
for  a   considerable  time.     To  put  him  out 
of  his   misery  immediately   would  be  too  \ 
great  a  favor,  and  prevent  the   inquisitors  \ 
from  indulging  their  sanguinary  dispositions  I 
with  other  sufferings  which  they  intend  to  \ 
inflict.     They  begin  by  putting  him  to  the  s 
torture,  under  the  pretence  of  making  the  I 
poor    wretch    discover    his    accomplices.  I 
For  this  purpose  the  tortures  are  various,  \ 
and  the  torments  inflicted   excruciating  to 
the  last  degree.     Well  might  a  late  writer, 
in   speaking   of  these    cruelties   exclaim  : 
4i  O,  that  I  was  able  to  give  some  faint  idea 
of  that  variety  of  tortures  which  the  misera- 
ble victims  are  here  forced  to  suffer  ;  but 
no  language  can  represent  such  a  compli- 
cated scene  of  horrors.     It  is   utterly  im- 

\  possible  for  any  words  to  describe  which 
of  them   is   the   most  cruel  and   inhuman. 

\  Every  one  is  so  exquisite  in  its  kind  as  to 

<  surpass  all  imagination.     What  detestable 


monsters  then  must  those  judges  be  who 
are  the  inventors,  and  perpetrators  of  such 
misery  ?  they  are  shaped  it  is  true  like 
other  men,  but  surely  they  seem  to  have  a 
different  kind  of  souls.  They  appear  as 
little  affected  with  the  groans  and  agonies 
of  their  fellow-creatures  as  the  cords,  chains, 
and  racks,  and  tortures,  which  are  applied 
to  their  writhing  limbs.  The  hearts  of 
these  ecclesiastical  butchers  are  grown  cal- 
lous, and,  like  those  of  common  butchers,  are 
so  inured  to  the  shedding  of  blood,  and  the 
horrid  sight  of  mangled  carcases,  as  to  have 
lost  all  the  impressions  of  sensibility,  and 
every  touch  and  feeling  of  humanity. 
Perpetual  scenes  of  horror  and  distress 
become  so  familiar  to  their  minds,  that  what 
would  rend  the  very  heart-strings  of  some 
men,  make  no  more  impression  on  theirs 
than  on  a  rock  of  adamant.  Indeed,  with- 
out such  a  fiend-like  temper,  it  would  be 
impossible  for  any  man  to  act  the  part  of  an 
inquisitor." 

The  inquisitors  allow  the  torture  to  be 
used  only  three  times,  but  at  those  three 
it  is  so  severely  indicted,  that  the  prisoner 
either  dies  under  it,  or  continues  always 
after  a  cripple,  and  suffers  the  severest 
pains  upon  every  change  of  weather.  We 
shall  give  an  ample  description  of  the 
severe  torments  occasioned  by  the  torture, 
from  the  account  of  one  who  suffered  it  the 
three  respective  times,  but  happily  survived 
the  cruelties  he  underwent. 

First  Time  of  Torturing. 

On  refusing  to  comply  with  the  iniqui- 
tous demands  of  the  inquisitors,  by  confes- 
sing all  the  crimes  they  thought  proper  to 
charge  him  with,  he  was  immediately  con- 
veyed to  the  torture-room,  where  no  light 
appeared  but  what  two  candles  gave.  That 
the  cries  of  the  sufferers  may  not  be  heard 
by  the  other  prisoners,  this  room  is  lined 
with  a  kind  of  quilting,  which  covers  all 
the  crevices,  and  deadens  the  sound. 

Great  was  the  prisoner's  horror  on  enter- 
ing this  infernal  place,  when  suddenly  he 
was  surrounded  by  six  wretches,  who,  after 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


139 


preparing  the  tortures,  stripped  him  naked  ,  to  declare,  that  if  he  died  under  the  torture 
to  his  drawers.  He  was  then  laid  upon  s  he  would  be  guilty,  by  his  obstinacy,  of 
his  back  on  a  kind  of  stand,  elevated  a  few  j  self-murder.  In  short,  at  the  last  time  of 
feet  from  the  floor.  s  the  ropes  being  drawn  tight,  he  grew  so 

They  began  the  operation  by  putting  an  s  exceedingly  weak,  by  the  circulation  of  his 
iron  collar  round  his  neck,  and  a  ring  to  blood  being  stopped,  and  the  pains  he  en- 
each  foot,  which  fastened  him  to  the  stand.  \  dured,  that  he  fainted  away  ;  upon  which 
His  limos  being  thus  stretched  out,  they  \  he  was  unloosed,  and  carried  back  to  his 
wound  two  ropes  round  each  arm,  and  two  s  dungeon, 
round    each    thigh  ;    which    ropes    being  j  Secmd  Time  ^  Torturing_ 

passed    under  the   scaffold    through  holes )      ,nl     ,     ,  -  -        .     .  .  . 

r     _     .      .  ,,,-■,  1  he  barbarous  savages  of  the  inquisition, 

made  for  that  purpose,  were  all  drawn  tight  s  -    ,.        ,        ,,  ,  .   „.       ,         , 

.  .  '    .  r         r   ,     \  hnding  that  all  the  torture  inflicted,  as  above 

at  the  same  instant  of  time,  by  four  of  the  s  ,        .,     ,    .  ,     c  ■  ,. 

,  <  described,  instead  of  extorting  a  discovery 

men,  on  a  given  signal.  i «.         .,  ,  ,     , 

T     .         b  °        .        .        ,  \  from   the  prisoner,  only  served  the  more 

It  is   easy   to    conceive   that  the   pains  5  r  ,  .       ,,  .. 

r   .      £  fervently    to    excite    his    supplications    to 

Heaven  for  patience  and  power  to  persevere 

in  truth  and  integrity,  were  so  inhuman, 

six  weeks  after,  as  to  expose  him  to  another 

kind   of  torture,  more  severe,  if  possible, 


which  immediately  succeeded  were  in 
tolerable  ;  the  ropes,  which  were  of  a  small 
size,  cut  through  the  prisoner's  flesh  to  the 
bone,  making  the  blood  gush  out  at  eight 
different  places  thus  bound  at  a  time.  As 
the  prisoner  persisted  in  not  making  any 
confession  of  what  the  inquisitors  required, 
the  ropes  were  drawn  in  this  manner  four 
times  successively. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  a  physician  and 
surgeon  attended,  and  often  felt  his  temples, 
in  order  to  judge  of  the  danger  he  might 
be  in  ;  by  which  means  his  tortures  were 
for  a  small  space  suspended,  that  he  might 
have  sufficient  opportunity  of  recovering 
his  spirits,  to  sustain  each  ensuing  torture. 

In  all  this  extremity  of  anguish,  while 
the  tender  frame  is  tearing,  as  it  were,  in 
pieces,  while  at  every  pore  it  feels  the 
sharpest  pangs  of  death,  and  the  agonizing 
soul  is  just  ready  to  burst  forth,  and  quit  its 
wretched  mansion,  the  ministers  of  the  in- 
quisition have  the  obduracy  of  heart  to  look 
on  without  emotion,  and  calmly  to  advise 
the  poor  distracted  creature  to  confess  his 
imputed  guilt,  in  doing  which  they  tell  him 


than  the  former  ;  the  manner  of  inflicting 
which  was  as  follows :  they  forced  his 
arms  backward,  so  that  the  palms  of  his 
hands  were  turned  outward  behind  him  ; 
when,  by  means  of  a  rope  that  fastened 
them  together  at  the  wrists,  and  which  was 
turned  by  an  engine,  they  drew  them,  by 
degrees,  nearer  each  other,  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  back  of  each  hand  touched, 
and  stood  exactly  parallel  to  the  other.  In 
consequence  of  this  violent  contortion,  both 
his  shoulders  became  dislocated,  and  a 
considerable  quantity  of  blood  issued  from 
his  mouth.  This  torture  was  repeated 
thrice  ;  after  which  he  was  again  taken  to 
the  dungeon,  and  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
physician  and  surgeon,  who,  in  setting  the 
dislocated  bones,  put  him  to  the  most  ex- 
quisite pain. 

Third  Time  of  Torturing. 
Two  months  after  the  second  torture,  the 


he  may  obtain  a  free  pardon,  and  receive  <  prisoner,  being  a  little  recovered,  was  again 
absolution.  All  this,  however,  was  ineffec-  \  ordered  to  the  torture-room  ;  and  there,  for 
tual  with  the  prisoner,  whose  mind  was  j  the  last  time,  made  to  undergo  another  kind 
strengthened  by  a  sweet  consciousness  of  <  of  punishment,  which  was  inflicted  twice 
innocence,  and  the  divine  consolation  of  <  without  any  intermission.  The  execution- 
Ireligion.  \  ers  fastened  a  thick  iron  chain  twice  round 

While  he  was  thus  suffering,  the  physician  j  his  body,  which  crossing  upon  his  stomach, 
and  surgeon  were  so  barbarously  unjust  as  \  terminated  at  the  wrists.    They  then  placed 


140 


*m 


THE    CHUISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


him  with  his  back,  against  a  thick  board, 
at  each  extremity  whereof  was  a  pulley, 
through  which  there  run  a  rope  attached 
*.o  the  ends  of  the  chain  at  the  wrists. 

The  executioners  then  stretching  the 
end  of  this  rope,  by  means  of  a  roller 
placed  at  a  distance  behind  him,  pressed 
or  bruised  his  stomach  in  proportion  as  the 
i>  ends  of  the  chain  were  drawn  tighter. 
They  tortured  him  in  this  manner  to  such 
a  degree,  that  his  wrists,  as  well  as  his 
shoulders,  were  quite  dislocated.  They 
were,  however,  soon  set  by  the  surgeons  ; 
but  the  barbarians,  not  yet  satisfied  with 
this  series  of  cruelty,  made  him  immediately 
undergo  the  like  torture  a  second  time  ; 
which  he  sustained  (though  if  possible  at- 
tended with  keener  pains)  with  equal  con- 
stancy and  resolution. 

After  this  he  was  again  remanded  to  his 
dungeon,  attended  by  the  surgeon  to  dress 
his  bruises  and  adjust  the  parts  dislocated  ; 
and  here  he  continued  till  their  auto-da- 
fe,  or  jail  delivery,  when  he  was  happily 
discharged. 

From  the  beforementioned  relation,  it 
may  easily  be  judged  what  dreadful  agony 
]  the  sufferer  must  have  labored  under,  at 
/  being  so  frequently  put  to  the  torture. 
;  Most  of  his  limbs  were  disjointed  ;  and  so 
\  much  was  he  bruised  and  exhausted  as  to 
?  be  unable,  for  some  weeks,  to  lift  his  hand 
I  to  his  mouth ;  and  his  body  became  greatly 
|  swelled  from  the  inflammation  caused  by 
\  such  frequent  dislocations.  After  his  dis- 
(  charge  he  felt  the  effects  of  this  cruelty  for 
|  the  remainder  of  his  life,  being  frequently 
seized  with  thrilling  and  excruciating  pains, 
to  which  he  had  never  been  subject,  till  after 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  under  the  merci- 
less and  bloody  lords  of  the  inquisition. 

Females  who  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
inquisitors,  have  not  the  least  favor  shown 
them  on  account  of  the  softness  of  their 
sex,  but  are  tortured  with  as  much  severity 
{  as  the  male  prisoners,  with  the  additional 
j  mortification  of  having  the  most  shocking 
>  indecencies  added  to  the  most  savage  bar- 

'■  barities. 
< 


If  the  abovementioned  modes  of  tortur- 
ing force  a  confession  from  the  prisoner, 
\  he  is  remanded  to  his  horrid  dungeon,  and 
\  left  a  prey  to  the  melancholy  of  his  situa- 
\  tion,  to  the  anguish  arising  from  what  he 
\  has  suffered,  and  to  the  dreadful  ideas  of 
',  future   barbarities.     If  he  still   refuses   to 
j  confess,   he   is,    in  the   same  manner,  re- 
\  manded  to  his  dungeon,  but  a  stratagem  is 
used  to  draw  from   him  what   the   torture 
i  fails   to  do.     A   companion  is   allowed  to 
|  attend  him,  under  the  pretence  of  waiting 
upon,    and    comforting    his    mind   till    his 
)  wounds   are  healed  :   this  person,  who  is 
5  always  selected  for  his  cunning,  insinuates 
himself  into  the  good  graces  of  the  prisoner, 
laments  the  anguish  he  feels,  sympathizes 
with  him,  and  taking  an  advantage  of  the 
hasty  expressions  forced  from  him  by  pain, 
does  all  he  can  to  dive  into  his  secrets. 
Sometimes  this   companion  pretends  to 
\  be  a  prisoner  like  himself,  and  imprisoned 
for  similar  charges.     This  is  to  draw  the 
unhappy  person  into  a  mutual   confidence, 
and  persuade  him  in  unbosoming  his  grief, 
\  to  betray  his  private  thoughts. 

These  snares  frequently  succeed, ^ls  they 
are  the  more  alluring  by  being  glossed  over 
with  the  appearance  of  friendship,  sym- 
pathy, pity,  and  every  tender  passion.  In 
fine,  if  the  prisoner  can  not  be  found  guilty, 
he  is  either  tortured,  or  harassed  to  death, 
though  a  few  have  sometimes  had  the  good 
fortune  to  be  discharged,  but  not  without 
having,  first  of  all,  suffered  the  most  dread- 
ful cruelties.  If  he  is  found  guilty,  all  his 
effects  are  confiscated,  and  he  is  condemn- 
ed to  be  whipped,  imprisoned  for  life,  sent 
to  the  galleys,  or  put  to  death.  These 
sentences  are  put  in  execution  at  an  auto- 
da-fe,  or  jail  delivery,  which  is  not  held 
annually,  or  at  any  stated  periods,  but 
sometimes  once  in  two,  three,  or  even  four 
years. 

After  having  mentioned  the  barbarities 
with  which  the  persons  of  prisoners  are 
treated  by  the  inquisitors,  we  shall  proceed 
to  recount  the  severity  of  their  proceedings 
against  books. 


B' 


B 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


141 


As  soon  as  a  book  is  published,  it  is  care- 1  From  what  has  been  said,  it  is  evident, 
fully  read  by  some  of  the  familiars  belong- 1  that  the  inquisitors  check  the  progress  of 
ing  to  the  inquisition.  These  wretched  <  learning,  impede  the  increase  of  arts,  nip 
critics  are  too  ignorant  to  have  taste,  too  >  genius  in  the  bud,  destroy  the  national 
bigoted  to  search  for  truth,  and  too  mali-  >  taste,  and  continue  the  cloud  of  ignorance 
cious  to  relish  beauties.  They  scrutinize,  ?  over  the  minds  of  the  people, 
not  for  the  merits,  but  for  the  defects  of  an  >  A  catalogue  of  condemned  books  is  an- 
author,  and  pursue  the  slips  of  his  pen  ?  nually  published  under  the  three  different 
|  with  unremitting  diligence.  Hence  they  /  heads  of  censures,  already  mentioned,  and 
read  with  prejudice,  judge  with  partiality,  ?  being  printed  on  a  very  large  sheet  of  paper, 
pursue  errors  with  avidity,  and  strain  that  t  is  hung  up  in  the  most  public  and  conspicu- 
which  is  innocent  into  an  offensive  mean- 1  ous  places.  After  which,  people  are  obliged 
ing.  ( to  destroy  all  such  books  as  come  under  the 

They  misunderstand,  misapply,  confound,  <  first  censure,  and  to  keep  none  belonging 
and  pervert  the  sense  ;  and  when  they  have  <  to  the  other  two  censures,  unless  the  ex- 
gratified  the  malignity  of  their  disposition,  \  ceptionable  passages  have  been  expunged, 
charge  their  blunders  upon  the  author,  that  \  and  the  corrections  made,  as  in  either  case 
a  prosecution  may  be  founded  upon  their  s  disobedience  would  be  of  the  most  fatal 
false   conceptions,  and  designed  misinter-  \  consequence  ;  for  the  possessing  or  reading 


pretations. 

The  most  trivial  charge  causes  the  cen- 
sure  of  a  book ;  but  it  is  to  be  observed, 


the    proscribed    books    are    deemed    very 
atrocious  crimes. 

The  publisher  of  such  books  is  usually 


that  the  censure  is  of  a  three-fold  nature,  ruined    in    his    circumstances,   and   some- 

viz.  : —  times  obliged  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his 

1.  When  the  book  is  wholly  condemned,  life  in  the  inquisition. 

2.  When  the  book  is  partly  condemned, 


that  is,  when  certain  passages  are  pointed 
out  as  exceptionable,  and  ordered  to  be  ex- 
punged. 

3.  When  the  book  is  deemed  incorrect ; 
the  meaning  of  which  is,  that  a  few  words 
or  expressions  displease  the  inquisitions. 
These,  therefore,  are  ordered  to  be  altered,  1 
and  such  alterations  go  under  the  name  of 
corrections. 


"  Strictures  on  books,  when  prejudice  indites, 
Or  ignorance  judges  of  what  genius  writes  ; 
When  blinded  zeal  and  rage  on  learning  lower, 
And  bigot  dulness  rills  the  seat  of  power — 
Well  may  pure  truth  for  her  hard  lot  repine, 
And  on  her  hand  her  pensive  head  incline  ; 
Well  may  fair  science  mourn  the  galling  chain, 
Candor  bewail,  and  innocence  complain. 
Who  curb  the  press  with  rigid  bigot  laws, 
Are  foes  professed  to  pure  religion's  cause  ; 
And  with  the  iron  band  of  power  would  bind 
The  free-born  soul,  and  chain  the  human  mind ; 
Crush  generous  sentiments  before  expressed, 
And  fetter  each  emotion  of  the  breast." 


THE  INQUISITIONS  OF  SPAIN  AND  PORTUGAL, 

RANCIS    ROMANES,    a  X  into   a   protestant   church,    he   was  struck  \ 

native  of  Spain,  being  of  a  <  with  the  truths  which  he  heard,  and  begin-  < 

mercantile  turn   of   mind,  <  ning  to  perceive  the  errors  of  popery,  he  [ 

was  employed  by  the  mer-  \  determined  to  search  further  into  the  matter.  \ 

chants    of    Antwerp,     to  \      Readingthe  sacred  Scriptures  attentively,  \ 

transact  some  business  for  <  and  perusing  the  writings  of  some  protes-  \ 

them  at  Breme.     He  had  been  educated  in  <  tant   divines,    he    plainly   perceived    how  j 

|  the  Romish  persuasion,  but  going  one  day  \  erroneous  the  principles  were  he  had  for-  \ 

«     P 


merly  embraced  ;  and  renounced  the  im- 
positions of  popery  for  the  doctrines  of  the 
reformed  church,  in  which  religion  appeared 
in  all  its  genuine  purity. 

Determiningto  give  over  worldly  thoughts, 
and  think  of  his  eternal  salvation,  he  studied 
religious  truths  more  than  trade,  and  pur- 
chased books  rather  than  merchandise,  con- 
vinced that  the  riches  of  the  body  are  tri- 
fling to  those  of  the  soul. 

He  now  resigned  his  agency  to  the  mer- 
chants of  Antwerp,  giving  them  an  account 
at  the  same  time  of  his  conversion  ;  and 
then  resolving,  if  possible,  to  convert  his 
parents,  he  went  to  Spain  for  that  purpose. 
But  the  Antwerp  merchants  writing  to  the 
inquisitors,  he  was  seized  upon,  imprisoned 
for  some  time,  and  then  condemned  to  be 
burnt  as  a  heretic. 

He  was  led  to  the  place  of  execution  in 
a  garment  painted  over  with  devils,  and 
had  a  paper  mitre  put  upon  his  head,  by 
way  of  derision.  As  he  passed  by  a 
wooden  cross,  one  of  the  priests  bade  him 
kneel  to  it ;  this  he  absolutely  refused  to 
do,  saying,  "  It  is  not  for  Christians  to  wor- 
ship wood." 

Being  placed  upon  a  pile  of  wood  the 
fire  quickly  reached  him,  when  he  lifted  up 
his  head  suddenly ;  the  priests  thinking  he 
meant  to  recant,  ordered  him  to  be  taken 
down.  Finding,  however,  that  they  were 
mistaken,  and  that  he  still  retained  his  con- 
stancy, he  was  placed  again  upon  the  pile 
where,  as  long  as  he  had  life  and  voice  re- 
maining, he  repeated  the  following  selected 
verses  of  the  seventh  psalm  : — 

"  0  Lord,  my  God,  since  I  have  placed 
My  trust  alone  in  thee, 
From  all  my  persecutors'  rage, 
Do  thou  deliver  me. 

"  To  save  me  from  my  threatening  foe, 
Lord,  interpose  thy  power, 
Lest,  like  a  savage  lion,  he 
My  helpless  soul  devour. 

"  Arise,  and  let  thine  anger,  Lord, 
In  my  defence  engage, 
Exalt  thyself  above  my  foes, 
And  their  insulting  rage. 

"  Awake,  awake  in  my  behalf, 
Thy  judgment  to  dispense, 
Which  thou  hast  righteously  ordained, 
For  injured  innocence." 


At  St.  Lucar  in  Spain  resided  a  carver 
named  Rochus,  whose  principal  business 
was  to  make  images  of  saints  and  other 
popish  idols.  Becoming,  however,  con- 
vinced of  the  errors  of  the  Romish  persua- 
sion, he  embraced  the  protestant  faith,  left 
off  carving  images,  and  for  subsistence  fol- 
lowed the  business  of  a  seal  engraver  only. 
He.  had,  however,  retained  one  image  of 
the  Virgin  Mary  for  a  sign  ;  when  an  in- 
quisitor passing  by,  asked  if  he  would  sell 
it ;  Rochus  mentioned  a  price  ;  the  inquisi- 
tor objected  to  it,  and  offered  half  the 
money :  Rochus  replied  :  "  I  would  rather 
break  it  to  pieces  than  take  such  a  trifle." 
— "  Break  it  to  pieces  !"  said  the  inquisitor, 
"  break  it  to  pieces  if  you  dare  !" 

Rochus  being  provoked  at  this  expres- 
sion, immediately  snatched  up  a  chisel, 
and  cut  off  the  nose  of  the  image.  This 
was  sufficient ;  the  inquisitor  went  away  in 
a  rage,  and  soon  after  sent  to  have  him 
apprehended.  In  vain  did  he  plead  that 
what  he  defaced  was  his  own  property, 
and  that  if  it  was  not  proper  to  do  as  he 
would  with  his  own  goods,  it  was  not  proper 
for  the  inquisitor  to  bargain  for  the  image 
in  the  way  of  trade.  Nothing,  however, 
availed  him  ;  his  fate  was  decided  :  he 
was  condemned  to  be  burnt ;  and  the  sen- 
tence was  executed  accordingly. 

Doctor  Cacalla,  his  brother  Francis,  and 

his  sister  Blanch,  were  burnt  at  Vallodolid, 

for  having  spoken  against  the  inquisitors. 

Doctor  Cacalla,  who  was  very  old,  when 

at    the    place   of   execution,   repeated    the 

words  of  Solomon,  which  have  been  thus 

beautifully  translated  : — 

"  Behold  where  age's  wretched  victim  lies, 
See  his  head  trembling,  and  his  half-closed  eyes  ; 
Frequent  for  breath  his  panting  bosom  heaves, 
To  broken  sleep  his  remnant  sense  he  gives, 
And  only  by  his  pains,  awaking,  finds  he  lives. 
Loosed  by  devouring  time,  the  silver  cord 
Dissevered  lies,  unhonored  from  the  board  ; 
The  crystal  urn,  when  broken,  is  thrown  by, 
And  apter  utensils  their  place  supply: 
These  things  and  I  must  share  one  common  lot — 
Die,  and  be  lost ;  corrupt,  and  be  forgot ; 
While  still  another,  and  another  race, 
Shall  now  supply,  and  now  give  up  the  place. 
From  earth  all  came,  to  earth  must  all  return  ; 
Frail  as  the  cord,  and  brittle  as  the  urn." 

At  Seville,  a  gentlewoman  with  her  two 


[ 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


143 


daughters,  and  her  neice,  were  apprehend- 
ed on  account  of  their  professing  the  prot- 
estant  religion.  They  were  all  put  to  the 
torture  ;  and  when  that  was  over,  one  of  the 
inquisitors  sent  for  the  youngest  daughter, 
pretended  to  sympathize  with  her,  and  pity 
her  sufferings  ;  then  binding  himself  with 
a  solemn  oath  not  to  betray  her,  he  said  : 
"  If  you  will  disclose  all  to  me,  I  promise 
you  I'll  procure  the  discharge  of  your 
mother,  sister,  cousin,  and  yourself." 

Made  confident  by  his  oath,  and  entrapped 
by  his  promises,  she  revealed  the  whole 
of  the  tenets  they  professed  ;  when  the 
perjured  wretch,  instead  of  acting  as  he 
had  sworn,  immediately  ordered  her  to  be 
put  to  the  rack,  saying :  "  Now  you  have 
revealed  so  much,  I  will  make  you  reveal 
more."  Refusing,  however,  to  say  any- 
thing further,  they  were  all  ordered  to  be 
burnt,  which  sentence  was  executed  at  the 
next  auto-da-fe. 

The  keeper  of  the  castle  of  Triano,  be- 
longing to  the  inquisitors  of  Seville,  happen- 
ed to  be  of  a  disposition  more  mild  and 
humane  than  is  usual  with  persons  in  his 
situation.  He  gave  all  the  indulgence  he 
could  to  the  prisoners,  and  showed  them 
every  favor  in  his  power  with  as  much 
secresy  as  possible.  At  length,  however, 
the  inquisitors  became  acquainted  with  his 
kindness,  and  determined  to  punish  him 
severely  for  it,  that  other  jailers  might  be 
deterred  from  showing  the  least  traces  of 
that  compassion  which  ought  to  glow  in 
the  breast  of  every  human  being.  With 
this  view  they  superseded,  threw  him  into 
a  dismal  dungeon,  and  used  him  with  such 
dreadful  barbarity  that  he  lost  his  senses. 

His  deplorable  situation,  however,  procur- 
ed him  no  favor,  for  frantic  as  he  was,  they 
brought  him  from  prison  at  an  auto-da-fe  to  j 
the   usual    place    of    punishment    with    a  \ 
sambenito  (or  garment  worn  by  criminals) 
on,  and  a  rope  about  his  neck.     His  sen-  \ 
tence  was  then  read,  and  ran  thus  :    that  i 
he  should  be  placed  upon  an  ass, led  through  < 
the  city,  receive  two  hundred  stripes,  and  \ 
then  be  condemned  six  years  to  the  galleys.  \ 


The  poor  frantic  wretch,  just  as  they 
were  about  to  begin  his  punishment,  sud- 
denly sprung  from  the  back  of  the  ass, 
broke  the  cords  that  bound  him,  snatched 
a  sword  from  one  of  the  guards,  and  dan-  } 
gerously  wounded  an  officer  of  the  inquisi- 
tion.  Being  overpowered  by  multitudes, 
he  was  prevented  from  doing  further  mis- 
chief, seized,  bound  more  securely  to  the 
ass,  and  punished  according  to  his  sentence. 
But  so  inexorable  were  the  inquisitors,  that 
for  the  rash  effects  of  his  madness,  an  ad- 
ditional four  years  was  added  to  his  slavery 
in  the  galleys. 

A  maid-servant  to  another  jailer  belong- 
ing to  the  inquisition  was  accused  of  hu- 
manity, and  detected  in  bidding  the  prison- 
ers keep  up  their  spirits.  For  these  heinous 
crimes,  as  they  were  called,  she  was  pub- 
licly whipped,  banished  her  native  place 
for  ten  years,  and,  what  is  worse,  had  her 
forehead  branded  by  means  of  red  hot  irons, 
with  these  words  :  "  A  favorer  and  aider  of 
heretics." 

John  Pontic,  a  Spaniard  by  birth,  a  gen- 
tleman by  education,  and  protestant  by  per- 
suasion, was,  principally  on  account  of  his 
great  estate,  apprehended  by  the  inquisitors, 
when  the  following  charges  were  exhibited 
against  him  : — 

1.  That  he  had  said  he  abhorred  the 
idolatry  of  worshipping  the  host ; 

2.  That  he  shunned  going  to  mass  ; 

3.  That  he  asserted  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ  alone  was  a  full  justification  for  a 
Christian ; 

4.  That  he  declared  there  was  no  purga- 
tory ;  and 

5.  That  he  affirmed  the  pope's  absolution 
not  to  be  of  any  value. 

On  these  charges  his  effects  were  con- 
fiscated to  the  use  of  the  inquisitors,  and 
his  body  was  burnt  to  ashes  to  gratify  their 
revenge. 

John  Gonsalvo  was  originally  a  priest, 
but  having  embraced  the  reformed  religion, 
he  was  now  seized  by  the  inquisitors,  as 
were  his  mother,  brother,  and  two  sisters. 
Being  condemned,  they  were  led  to  execu- 


tion,  where  they  sung  part  of  the  CVIth 
psalm,  viz.  : — 

"  0  render  thanks  to  God  above, 
The  fountain  of  eternal  love  ; 
Whose  mercy  firm,  through  ages  past 
Has  stood,  and  shall  for  ever  last. 

"  Who  can  his  mighty  deeds  express, 
Not  only  vast,  but  numberless  ; 
What  mortal  eloquence  can  raise, 
His  tribute  of  immortal  praise. 

"  Happy  are  they,  and  only  they, 
Who  from  thy  judgments  never  stray  ; 
Who  know  what's  right — not  only  so, 
But  always  practise  what  they  know." 

At  the  place  of  execution  they  were 
ordered  to  say  the  creed,  which  they  im- 
mediately complied  with,  but  coming  to 
these  words  :  "  The  holy  catholic  church," 
they  were  commanded  to  add  the  mono- 
syllables of  Rome,  which  absolutely  refu- 
sing, one  of  the  inquisitors  said  :  "  Put  an 
end  to  their  lives  directly  ;"  when  the  exe- 
cutioners obeyed,  and  strangled  them  im- 
mediately. 

Four  protestant  women,  being  seized 
upon  at  Seville,  were  tortured,  and  in  pro- 
cess of  time  ordered  for  execution.  On 
the  way  thither  they  began  to  sing  psalms  ; 
but  the  officers  of  the  inquisition,  thinking 
that  the  words  of  the  psalms  reflected  on 
themselves,  put  gags  into  all  their  mouths, 
to  make  them  silent.  They  were  then 
burnt,  and  the  houses  where  they  resided 
were  ordered  to  be  razed  to  the  ground. 

Ferdinando,  a  protestant  schoolmaster, 
was  apprehended  by  order  of  the  inquisi- 
tion, for  instructing  his  pupils  in  the  princi- 
ples of  protestantism  ;  and,  after  being 
severely  tortured,  was  burnt. 

A  monk,  who  had  abjured  the  errors  of 
popery,  was  imprisoned  at  the  same  time 
as  the  above  Ferdinando  ;  but  through  the 
fear  of  death,  and  to  procure  mercy,  he 
said  he  was  willing  to  embrace  his  former 
communion.  Ferdinando,  hearing  of  this,  [ 
got  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  him,  re- 
proached him  with  his  weakness,  and 
threatened  him  with  eternal  perdition.  The 
monk,  sensible  of  his  crime,  returned  to, 
promised  to  continue  in  the  protestant  faith, 


J  and  declared  to  the  inquisitors,  that  he 
/  solemnly  renounced  his  intended  recanta- 
j  tion.  Sentenco  of  death  was  therefore 
/  passed  upon  him,  and  he  was  burnt  at  the 
!>  same  time  as  Ferdinando. 

Juliano,  a   Spanish  Roman  catholic,  on 
>}  travelling  into  Germany,  became  a  convert 
\  to  the  protestant  religion. 
)      Being  zealous  for  the  faith  he  had  em- 
<  braced,  Juliano  undertook  a  very  arduous 
j  task,  which  was  to  convey  from  Germany 
\  into  his  own  country,  a  great  number  of 
bibles  concealed  in  casks,  and  packed  up 
like  Rhenish  wine.     This  important  com- 
mission he  succeeded  in  so  far  as  to  dis- 
tribute the  books.     A  pretended  protestant, 
however,  who  had  purchased  one  of  the 
bibles,  betrayed  him,  and  laid  an  account 
of  the  whole  affair  before  the  inquisition. 

Juliano  was  immediately  seized  upon, 
and  strict  inquiry  being  made  for  the  re- 
spective purchasers  of  these  bibles,  eight 
hundred  persons  were  apprehended  upon 
the  occasion.  They  were  all  indiscrimi- 
nately tortured,  and  then  most  of  them  were 
sentenced  to  various  punishments.  Juliano 
was  burnt,  twenty  were  roasted  upon  spits, 
several  imprisoned  for  life,  some  were 
publicly  whipped,  many  sent  to  the  galleys, 
and  a  few  discharged. 

John  Leon,  a  protestant  tailor  of  Spain, 
travelled  to  Germany,  and  thence  to  Gene-  \ 
va,  where,  hearing  that  a  great  number  of 
English  protestants  were  returning  to  their  \ 
native  country,  he,  and  some  more  Span-  < 
iards,  determined  to  go  with  them.     The 
Spanish  inquisitors  being  apprized  of  their  i 
intentions,  sent  a  number  of  familiars  so 
expeditiously  in  pursuit  of  them,  that  they 
overtook  them  at  a  seaport  in  Zealand,  one 
of  the  United  Provinces  (which  was  then 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  Spain)  just,  before 
they  had  embarked.     Having  thus  succeed- 
ed in  their  commission,  the  poor  prisoners 
were  heavily  fettered,  handcuffed,  gagged, 
and  had   their  heads  and    necks  covered 
with    a    kind   of  iron  net-work.     In    this 
miserable  condition  they  were  conveyed  to 
Spain,  thrown  into  a  dismal  dungeon,  al- 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


145 


most  famished  with  hunger,  barbarously- 
tortured,  and  then  cruelly  burnt. 

A  young  lady,  having  been  put  into  a 
convent,  absolutely  refused  to  take  the  veil, 
or  turn  nun.  On  leaving  the  cloister  she 
embraced  the  protestant  faith,  which  being 
known  to  the  inquisitors,  she  was  appre- 
hended, and  every  method  used  to  draw  her 
back  again  to  popery.  This  proving  in- 
effectual, her  inexorable  judges  condemned 
her  to  the  flames,  and  she  was  burnt  ac- 
cording to  her  sentence,  persisting  in  her 
faith  to  the  last. 

Christopher  Losada,  an  eminentphysician, 
and  learned  philosopher,  became  extremely 
obnoxious  to  the  inquisitors,  on  account  of 
exposing  the  errors  of  popery,  and  profes- 
sing the  tenets  of  protestantism.  For  these 
reasons  he  was  apprehended,  imprisoned, 
and  racked  ;  but  those  severities  not  bring- 
ing him  to  confess  the  Roman  catholic 
church  to  be  the  only  true  church,  he  was 
sentenced  to  the  fire  ;  the  flames  of  which 
he  bore  with  exemplary  patience,  and  re- 
signed his  soul  to  that  Creator  by  whom  it 
was  bestowed. 

Arias,  a  monk  of  St.  Isidores  monastery 
at  Seville,  was  a  man  of  great  abilities,  but 
of  a  vicious  disposition.  He  sometimes 
pretended  to  forsake  the  errors  of  the  church 
of  Rome,  and  become  a  protestant,  and  soon 
after  turned  Roman  catholic.  Thus  he 
continued  a  long  time  wavering  between 
both  persuasions,  till  God  thought  proper 
to  touch  his  heart,  and  show  him  the  great 
danger  of  inconstancy  in  religious  matters. 
He  now  became  a  true  protestant,  and  be- 
wailed his  former  errors  with  contrition. 
The  sincerity  of  h;s  conversion  being  known, 
he  was  seized  by  the  officers  of  the  inquisi- 
|  tion,  severely  tortured,  and  afterward  burnt 
at  an  auto-da-fe. 

Maria  de  Coceicao,  a  young  lady  who 

resided   with  her  brother  at   Lisbon,  was 

taken  up  by  the  inquisitors,  and  ordered  to 

be  put  to  the  rack.     The  exquisite  torments 

she  felt  staggered  her  resolution,  and  she 

fully  confessed  the  charges  against  her. 

The  cords  were  immediately  slackened, 
10 


and  she  was  reconducted  to  her  cell,  where 
she  remained  till  she  had  recovered  the 
use  of  her  limbs,  and  was  then  brought 
again  before  her  tribunal,  and  ordered  to 
ratify  her  confession,  and  sign  it.  This 
she  absolutely  refused  to  do,  telling  them, 
that  what  she  had  said  was  forced  from  her 
by  the  excessive  pain  she  underwent.  In- 
censed at  this  reply,  the  inquisitors  ordered 
her  again  to  be  put  to  the  rack,  when  the 
weakness  of  nature  once  more  prevailed, 
and  she  repeated  her  former  confession. 
She  was  immediately  remanded  to  her  cell 
till  her  wounds  were  again  healed,  when 
being  a  third  time  brought  before  the  in- 
quisitors, they,  in  a  stern  manner,  ordered 
her  to  sign  her  fiistand  second  confessions. 
She  answered  as  before,  but  added  :  "  I 
have  twice  given  way  to  the  frailty  of  the 
flesh,  and  perhaps  may,  while  on  the  rack, 
be  weak  enough  to  do  so  again  ;  but  depend 
upon  it,  if  you  torture  me  a  hundred  times, 
as  soon  as  I  am  released  from  the  rack  I 
shall  deny  what  was  extorted  from  me  by 
pain."  The  inquisitors  ordered  her  to  be 
racked  a  third  time  ;  and,  during  this  last 
trial,  she  exceeded  even  her  own  expecta- 
tions ;  bore  the  torments  inflicted  with  the 
utmost  fortitude,  and  could  not  be  persuaded 
to  answer  any  of  the  questions  put  to  her. 
As  her  courage  and  constancy  increased, 
the  inquisitors  imagined  that  she  would 
deem  death  a  glorious  martyrdom,  and 
therefore,  to  disappoint  her  expectations, 
they  condemned  her  to  a  severe  whipping 
through  the  public  streets,  and  to  a  ten 
years'  banishment. 

Jane  Bohorquia,  a  lady  of  a  noble  family 
in  Seville,  was  apprehended  on  the  informa- 
tion of  her  sister,  who  had  been  tortured, 
and  burnt  for  professing  the  protestant  re- 
ligion. While  on  the  rack,  through  the 
extremity  of  pain,  that  young  lady  confessed 
that  she  had  frequently  discoursed  with  her 
sister  concerning  protestantism,  and  upon 
this  extorted  confession  was  Jane  Bohorquia 
seized  and  imprisoned.  Being  enciente  at 
the  beginning,  they  let  her  remain  tolerably 
quiet  till  she  was  delivered,  when  they  im- 


146 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


\ 


mediately  took  away  the  child,  and  put  it 
to  nurse,  that  it  might  be  brought  up  a  Ro- 
man catholic. 

The  lady  was  not  perfectly  recovered 
from  the  weakness  caused  by  her  labor, 
when  she  was  ordered  to  be  racked,  which 
was  done  with  such  severity,  that  she  ex- 
pired a  week  after  of  the  wounds  and  bruises 
she  received.  Upon  this  occasion  the  in- 
quisitors affected  some  remorse,  and,  in  one 
of  the  printed  acts  of  the  inquisition,  which 
they  always  publish  at  an  auto-da-fe,  they 
thus  mention  this  young  lady  : — 

"  Jane  Bohorquia  was  found  dead  in 
prison ;  after  which,  upon  reviving  her 
prosecution,  the  inquisitors  discovered  that 
she  was  innocent. — Be  it  therefore  known, 
that  no  further  prosecutions  shall  be  carried 
on  against  her,  and  that  her  effects,  which 
were  confiscated,  shall  be  given  to  the 
heirs  at  law.  Thus  have  the  lords  of  the 
holy  office  of  inquisition  generously  restor- 
ed to  her  innocence,  reputation,  and  estate." 
Strange  inconsistency !  to  take  the  proper- 
ty, and  torture  the  person  before  conviction 
of  guilt,  and  then  to  compliment  themselves 
for  moderation,  in  returning  what  they  had 
no  right  to  seize,  and  forgiving  one,  who, 
by  their  own  acknowledgment,  had  never 
offended  them.  One  sentence,  however, 
in  the  above  ridiculous  passage  wants  ex- 
planation, viz.  :  "  That  no  further  prosecu- 
tions shall  be  carried  on  against  her." 
This  alludes  to  the  absurd  custom  of  prose- 
cuting, and  burning  the  bones  of  the  dead  : 
for  when  a  prisoner  dies  in  the  inquisition, 
the  process  continues  the  same  as  if  he  was 
living  ;  the  bones  are  deposited  in  a  chest, 
and  if  a  sentence  of  guilt  is  passed,  they 
are  brought  out  at  the  next  auto-da-fe  ;  the 
sentence  is  read  against  them  with  as  much 
solemnity  as  against  a  living  prisoner,  and 
they  are  at  length  committed  to  the  flames. 
In  a  similar  manner  are  prosecutions  car- 
ried on  against  prisoners  who  escape  ;  and 
when  their  persons  are  far  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  inquisitors,  they  are  burnt  in 
effigy. 

Dr.  Isaac  Orobio,  a  learned  physician, 


having  beaten  a  Moorish  servant  for  steal- 
ing, was  accused  by  him  of  professing 
Judaism.  Without  considering  the  appa- 
rent malice  of  the  servant,  the  inquisitors 
seized  the  master  upon  the  charge.  He 
was  kept  three  years  in  prison  before  he 
had  the  least  intimation  of  what  he  was  to 
undergo,  and  then  suffered  the  following 
six  modes  of  torture  : — 

1.  A  coarse  linen  coat  was  put  on  him, 
and  then  drawn  so  tight  that  the  circulation 
of  his  blood  was  nearly  stopped,  and  the 
breath  almost  pressed  out  of  his  body. 
After  this  the  strings  were  suddenly  loosen- 
ed, when  the  air  forcing  its  way  hastily 
into  his  stomach,  and  the  blood  rushing  into 
its  channels,  he  suffered  the  most  incredible 
pains. 

2.  His  thumbs  were  tied  with  small 
cords,  so  hard  that  the  blood  gushed  from 
under  the  nails. 

3.  He  was  seated  on  a  bench  with  his 
back  against  a  wall,  wherein  small  iron 
pulleys  were  fixed.  Ropes  being  fastened 
to  several  parts  of  his  body  and  limbs,  were 
passed  through  the  pulleys,  and  being  sud- 
denly drawn  with  great  violence,  his  whole 
frame  was  forced  into  a  distorted  heap. 

4.  After  having  suffered  for  a  consider- 
able time  the  pains  of  the  last-mentioned 
position,  the  seat  was  snatched  away,  and 
he  was  left  suspended  against  the  wall  in 
the  most  excruciating  misery. 

5.  A  little  instrument  with  five  knobs, 
and  which  went  with  springs,  being  placed 
near  his  face,  he  suddenly  received  five 
blows  on  the  cheek,  that  put  him  to  such 
pain  as  caused  him  to  faint  away. 

6.  The  executioners  fastened  ropes  round 
his  wrists,  and  then  drew  them  about  his 
body.  Placing  him  on  his  back  with  his 
feet  against  the  wall,  they  pulled  with  the 
utmost  violence,  till  the  cords  had  penetra- 
ted to  the  bone. 

The  last  torture  he  suffered  three  dif- 
ferent times,  and  then  lay  seventy  days 
before  his  wounds  were  healed.  He  was 
afterward  banished,  and  in  his  exile 
wrote  the  account  of  his  sufferings,  from 


ft 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


147 


which    we    have   extracted    the   foregoing: 
particulars. 

An  excellent  penman  of  Toledo,  in  Spain,  j 
and  a  protestant,  was  fond  of  producing 
fine  specimens  of  writing,  and  having  them 
framed,  to  adorn  the  different  apartments 
of  his  house.  Among  other  curious  exam- 
ples of  penmanship  was  a  large  piece,  con- 
taining the  Lord's  prayer,  creed,  and  ten • 
commandments,  thrown  into  verse,  and 
finely  written.  This  piece,  which  hung  in 
a  conspicuous  part  of  the  house,  was  one  j 
day  seen  by  a  person  belonging  to  the  in- 
quisition, who  observed  that  the  versifica- 
tion of  the  commandments  was  not  accord- 
ing to  the  charch  of  Rome,  but  according ; 
to  the  protestant  church,  for  the  protestants 
retain  the  whole  of  the  commandments  as ; 
they  are  found  in  the  Bible,  but  the  papists 
omit  that  part  of  the  second  commandment 
which  forbids  the  worship  of  images.  The 
inquisition  soon  had  information  of  the 
whole,  and  this  ingenious  gentleman  was 
seized,  prosecuted,  and  burnt,  only  for  orna- 
menting his  house  with  a  specimen  of  his 
skill  and  piety.  The  following  is  a  transla- 
tion and  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which 
this  curious  piece  of  penmanship  was  dis- 
played : — 

LORD'S   PRAYER. 

"  Almighty  God,  who  art  in  heaven, 
To  thee  be  endless  praises  given 
Let  us  thy  joyful  kingdom  see, 
A  kingdom  of  felicity  ; 
Let  us  on  earth  thy  sacred  will, 
Strictly  like  those  in  heaven  fulfil ; 
This  day  our  daily  bread  bestow, 
Forgive,  as  we  forgive  each  foe  ; 
Let  us  not  to  temptation  yield, 
But  guard  from  vice,  from  evil  shield  ; 
For  thine's  the  kingdom,  glory,  power  ! 
And  shall  be  to  the  latest  hour.     Amen.'' 


CREED. 

"  In  God  the  Father  I  believe, 
From  whom  all  things  did  birth  receive  ; 
And  in  his  only  Son  I  place, 
My  confidence  of  gaining  grace  : 
That  Son,  to  whom  the  Holy  Ghost 
Conception  gave  from  heaven's  high  host  ; 
Then  from  a  Virgin  he  had  breath, 
And  Pontius  Pilate  gave  him  death. 
Three  days  he  with  the  grave  contends, 
And  into  hell  itself  descends  ; 
On  the  third  day  again  he  rose, 
And  mounts  to  heaven  to  seek  repose  ; 
On  God's  right  hand  he  sits  serene, 
Till  the  last  judgment's  awful  scene. 
I  in  the  Holy  Ghost  believe, 
The  church  as  catholic  receive  : 
I  hold  that  saints  commune  in  heaven, 
And  that  our  sins  '-hall  be  forgiven  ; 
That  resurrection  day  shall  come, 
And  the  soul's  everlasting  doom. 

"  Amen." 


THE   TEN   COMMANDMENTS. 

"  1.  No  God  thou  shalt  adore  but  me, 
Nor  bow  to  other  deity. 

2.  Thou  shalt  not  any  image  made, 
Nor  for  a  God  an  idol  take  ; 
Whether  a  picture  it  appear, 

Of  anything  in  sea,  earth,  air, 
No  confidence  upon  it  place, 
Nor  bow  to  anything  so  base  : 
For  I  am  jealous  of  that  praise 
Which  only  one  true  God  should  raise, 
And  punish  all  who  hate  or  scorn, 
E'en  in  their  progeny  unborn. 

3.  Take  not  th'  Almighty's  name  in  vain, 
He  will  treat  severely  the  profane. 

4.  Labor  not  on  the  sabbath-day, 
But  to  th'  Almighty  fervent  pray  ; 
Six  days  to  labor  rendered  due, 
Suffice  your  business  to  pursue  ; 

Then  thee  and  thine  in  worth  may  strain, 
But  on  the  sabbath  day  refrain  ; 
For  in  six  days,  by  God  displayed, 
The  wondrous  universe  was  made  ; 
On  the  seventh  day  he  went  to  rest, 
And  hence  the  sabbath-day  is  blest. 

5.  To  both  thy  parents  honor  give, 
And  long  in  honor  thou  shalt  live. 

6.  Do  not  your  hands  in  blood  embrue : 

7.  Nor  dare  adultery  pursue  : 

8.  That  thou  stealst  not  take  special  care  ; 

9.  Nor  ever  perjured  witness  bear  : 

10.  Thy  neighbor's  house  thou  shalt  not  crave, 
His  wife,  his  servant,  or  his  slave, 
Or  anything  that  he  may  have." 


THE 


LIVES  OF  DR.  ^GIDIO,  DR.  CONSTANTINE,  NICHOLAS  BURTON,  AND 
WILLIAM  GARDENER. 

the  life  of   dr.   jEgidio.  aures  and  school  divinity.     The  professor 

R.    iEgidio    was   educated  \  of  theology  dying,  he  was  elected  into  his 
at  the  university  of  Alcala,  \  place,  and  acted  so  much  to  the  satisfaction 
where  he  took  his  several    of  every  one,  that  his  reputation  for  learn-  j 
degrees,  and   particularly  i  ing   and  piety    was    circulated   throughout  j 
applied     himself    to    the  ]  Europe.  < 

study  of  the  sacred  Scrip-  l,      His  fame,  on  account  of  his  theological 


E 


148 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MAKTYROLOGY. 


lectures,  having  attracted  the  notice  of 
some  Spanish  grandees  and  principals  of 
the  church,  he  was  sent  for  to  Seville,  and 
made  subdean  of  the  cathedral  church  in 
that  city.  But  when  he  came  to  deliver 
his  probation  sermon,  instead  of  raising 
admiration,  he  created  contempt.  The 
lectures  which  had  formerly  gained  him 
fame  he  had  composed  with  attention,  and 
read  with  care  ;  but  his  sermon  he  was 
obliged  to  speak  extempore.  This  mode 
of  facing  an  audience  staggered  him.  He 
stammered,  hesitated,  and  at  length  became 
so  confused  in  his  words,  that  his  meaning 
was  scarce  intelligible. 

This  miscarriage  quite  disheartened  him, 
and  he  had  some  thoughts  of  resigning  his 
preferment  and  returning  to  the  university  ; 
when  a  friend  pointed  out  the  faults  of  his 
preaching  to  him,  and  taught  him  how  to 
remedy  them. 

He  assiduously  studied  his  friend's  rules, 
and  by  punctually  putting  them  in  practice 
so  far  refined  his  diction,  and  polished  his 
action,  that  he  became  admired  for  his 
elocution  by  those  who  had  so  lately  despi- 
sed him  on  that  account. 

But  his  friend  did  him  a  more  essential 
service  than  that  of  making  him  an  orator, 
by  making  him  a  protestant.  A  title  which 
iEgidio  himself  thought  of  all  others  the 
most  honorable. 

The  light  of  truth  began  to  appear  in  his 
sermons,  and  his  doctrines  contained  the 
pure  tenets  of  primitive  Christianity.  The 
great  emperor  Charles  V.,  hearing  him 
preach,  was  so  pleased  with  the  matter 
and  manner,  and  thought  the  elocution  and 
and  doctrine  so  simply  agreeable,  thai  he 
constituted  him  bishop  of  Dortois. 

True  merit  will  excite  envy. 

"  Envy  will  merit  like  its  shade  pursue, 
But  like  the  shadow  proves  the  substance  true." 

iEgidio  had  his  enemies,  and  these  laid 
a  complaint  against  him  to  the  inquisitors, 
who  sent  him  a  citation,  and  when  he  ap- 
peared to  it,  cast  him  into  a  dungeon. 

As  the  greatest  part  of  those  who  be- 
longed to  the  cathedral  church  at  Seville, 


and  many  persons  belonging  to  the  bishop- 
ric of  Dortois,  highly  approved  of  the  doc- 
trines of  iEgidio,  which  they  thought  per- 
fectly consonant  with  true  religion,  they 
immediately  petitioned  the  emperor  in  his 
behalf.  Though  that  monarch  had  been 
educated  a  Roman  catholic,  he  had  too 
much  sense  to  be  a  bigot ;  and  therefore 
sent  an  immediate  order  for  his  enlarge- 
ment. 

He  subsequently  visited  the  church  of 
Valladolid,  did  everything  he  could  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  religion,  and  returning 
home,  he  soon  after  fell  sick,  and  died  in 
an  extreme  old  age. 

The  inquisitors,  having  been  disappoint- 
ed of  gratifying  their  malice  against  him, 
while  living,  determined  (as  the  emperor's 
whole  thoughts  were  engrossed  by  a  milita- 
ry expedition)  to  wreak  their  vengeance 
on  him  when  dead.  Therefore,  soon  after 
he  was  buried,  they  ordered  his  remains  to 
be  dug  out  of  the  grave  ;  and  a  legal  pro- 
cess being  carried  on,  they  were  condemned 
to  be  burnt,  which  was  executed  accord- 
ingly. 

THE    LIFE    OF    DR.    CONSTANTINE. 

Dr.  Constantine,  an  intimate  acquaint- 
ance of  the  already-mentioned  Dr.  JEgidio, 
was  a  man  of  uncommon  natural  abilities 
and  profound  learning,  exclusive  of  several 
modern  tongues ;  he  was  acquainted  with 
the  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew  languages, 
and  perfectly  well  knew,  not  only  the 
sciences  called  abstruse,  but  those  arts 
which  come  under  the  denomination  of 
polite  literature. 

His  eloquence  rendered  him  a  pleasing, 
and  the  soundness  of  his  doctrines  a  profita- 
ble preacher  ;  and  he  was  so  popular,  that 
he  never  preached  but  to  a  crowded  assem-  j 
bly.     He  had  many  opportunities  of  rising  ) 
in  the  church,  but  never  would  take  advan-  s 
tage  of  them  ;  for  if  a  living  of  greater  value  j 
than  his  own  was  offered   him,  he  would  I 
refuse  it,  saying  :  "lam  content  with  what  \ 
I   have."    And  he  frequently  preached  so  | 
forcibly  against  lewdness,  that  many  of  his  \ 

M 


B~~- 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTY&OLOGY. 


149 


superiors,  who  were  not  so  delicate  upon 
the  subject,  took  umbrage  at  his  doctrines 
upon  that  head. 

Having  been  fully  confirmed  in  protestant- 
ism by  Dr.  iEgidio,  he  preached  boldly  such 
doctrines  only  as  were  agreeable  to  gospel 
purity,  and  uncontaminated  by  the  errors 
which  had,  at  various  times,  crept  into  the 
Romish  church.  For  these  reasons  he  had 
many  enemies  among  the  Roman  catholics, 
and  some  of  them  were  fully  determined 
on  his  destruction. 

A  worthy  gentleman,  named  Scobario, 
having  erected  a  school  for  divinity  lectures, 
appointed  Dr.  Constantine  to  be  reader 
therein.  He  immediately  undertook  the 
task,  and  read  lectures,  by  portions,  on  the 
Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes,  and  Canticles  ;  and 
was  beginning  to  expound  the  book  of  Job, 
when  he  was  seized  by  the  inquisitors. 

Being  brought  to  examination,  he  an- 
swered with  such  precaution  that  they  could 
not  find  any  explicit  charge  upon  him,  but 
remained  doubtful  in  what  manner  to  pro- 
ceed, when  the  following  circumstances 
occurred  to  determine  them  : — 

Dr.  Constantine  had  deposited  with  a 
woman,  named  Isabella  Martin,  several 
books,  which  to  him  were  very  valuable, 
but  which  he  knew,  in  the  eyes  of  the  in- 
quisition, were  exceptionable. 

This  woman  having  been  informed  against 
as  a  protestant,  was  apprehended,  and,  after 
a  small  process,  her  goods  were  ordered  to 
be  confiscated.  Previous,  however,  to  the 
officers  coming  to  her  house,  the  woman's 
son  had  removed  away  several  chests  full 
of  the  most  valuable  articles  ;  and  among 
these  were  Dr.  Constantine's  books. 

A  treacherous  servant  giving  intelligence 
of  this  to  the  inquisitors,  an  officer  was 
despatched  to  the  son  to  demand  the  chests. 
The  son,  supposing  that  the  officer  only 
came  for  Constantine's  books,  said :  "  I 
know  what  you  come  for,  and  I'll  fetch 
them  to  you  immediately."  He  then  fetch- 
ed Dr.  Constantine's  books  and  papers,  when 
the  officer  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  what 
he  did  not  look  for.     He,  however,  told  the 


young  man,  that  he  was  glad  these  books 
and  papers  were  prodviced,  but  nevertheless 
he  must  fulfil  the  end  of  his  commission, 
which  was,  to  carry  him  and  the  goods  he 
had  embezzled  before  the  inquisitors,  which 
he  did  accordingly ;  for  the  young  man 
knew  it  would  be  in  vain  to  expostulate,  or 
resist,  and  therefore  quietly  submitted  to 
his  fate. 

The  inquisitors  being  thus  possessed  of 
Constantine's  books  and  writings,  now  found 
matter  sufficient  to  form  charges  against 
him.  When  he  was  brought  to  a  re-ex- 
amination, they  presented  one  of  his  pa- 
pers, and  asked  him  if  he  knew  the  hand- 
writing 1  Perceiving  it  was  his  own,  he 
guessed  the  whole  manner,  confessed  the 
writing,  and  justified  the  doctrine  it  contain- 
ed ;  saying  :  "  In  that,  and  all  my  other 
writings,  I  have  never  departed  from  the 
truth  of  the  gospel,  but  have  always  kept 
in  view  the  pure  precepts  of  Christ,  as  he 
delivered  them  to  mankind." 

After  being  detained  upward  of  two  years 
in  prison,  Dr.  Constantine  was  seized  with 
a  bloody  flux,  which  put  an  end  to  his  mise- 
ries in  this  world.  The  process,  however, 
was  carried  on  against  his  body,  which,  at 
the  ensuing  auto-da-fe,  was  publicly  burnt. 

"  Thus  death  itself  can  not  control 
The  malice  of  a  bigot  soul ; 
Which  more  than  forfeit  life  can  crave, 
And  seek  revenge  beyond  the  grave." 

THE    LIFE    OF    MR.  NICHOLAS    BURTON. 

Mr.  Burton  was  a  merchant  of  London, 
who  traded  into  Spain.  Being  at  Cadiz,  a 
familiar  of  the  inquisition  called  upon  him 
one  day  at  his  lodging,  pretending  that  he 
wanted  to  send  a  quantity  of  merchandise 
to  London.  Having  asked  as  many  ques- 
tions as  he  though  proper,  he  departed,  and 
Mr.  Burton  was  next  day  taken  into  custody 
by  one  of  the  inquisitorial  officers. 

On  his  examination  the  president  de- 
manded if  he  had,  by  words  or  writing, 
said  or  insinuated  anything  disrespectful  to 
the  Roman  catholic  persuasion. 

To  this  Mr.  Burton  replied  in  the  nega- 
tive ;   saying :  that   "  he  was  sensible,  in 


«' 


150 


1 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


whatever  country  we  were,  respect  ought 
to  be  paid  to  the  religion  of  that  country  : 
that  such  knowledge  to  him  was  essential, 


At  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  he  was, 
by  his  master,  sent  to  Lisbon,  to  act  as  fac- 
tor.    Here  he  applied  himself  to  the  study 


who,  as  a  merchant, 'was  obliged  to  visit  ?  of  the  Portuguese  language,  executed  his 
various  countries,  and  conform  to  the  re-  ( business  with  assiduity  and  fidelity,  and 
ligious  and  civil  ceremonies  of  all."  behaved  with  the  most  engaging  affability 

This  defence,  however,  availed  him  to  all  persons  with  whom  he  had  the  least 
nothing :  they  proceeded  to  torture  him,  in  \  concern.  He  conversed  privately  with  a 
order  to  gain  information.  Failing  in  this,  j  few,  whom  he  knew  to  be  zealous  protes- 
they  condemned  him  for  invincible  obstina- |  tants  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  cautiously 
cy,  and  at  the  next  auto-da-fe  he  was  burnt.  \  avoided  giving  the  least  offence  to  any  who 


When  the  flames  first  touched  him,  he  bore 
the  torments  with  such  exemplary  patience, 
and  appeared  with  so  smiling  a  counten- 
ance, that  one  of  the  priests,  enraged  at  his 


were  Roman  catholics  ;  he  had  not,  how- 
ever, hitherto,  gone  into  any  of  the  popish 
churches. 

A  marriage  being  concluded  between  the 


serenity,  said,  with  great  malice  and  absur-  \  king  of  Portugal's  son  and  the  infanta  of 

dity  :  "  The  reason  why  he  does  not  seem 

to  feel,  is  to  me  very  evident ;  the  devil  has 

already   got  his  soul,  and  his  body  is   of 

course  deprived  of  the   usual  sensations." 

(See  engraving.) 

About  the  time  of  Mr.  Burton's  martyr- 
dom, several  others  of  the  English  in  Spain 
were  put  to  death  by  the  inquisitors  ;  par- 
ticularly, John  Baker,  William  Burgate,  and 
William  Burgess,  were  burnt,  and  William 
Hooker  was  stoned  to  death  ;  freely  giving 
up  their  lives  for  Him  who  shed  his  blood 
for  them. 


Spain,  upon  the  wedding-day  the  bride- 
groom, bride,  and  the  whole  court,  went  to 
the  cathedral  church,  attended  by  multi- 
tudes of  all  ranks  of  people,  and  among  the 
rest  William  Gardener,  who  stayed  during 
the  whole  ceremony,  and  was  greatly 
shocked  at  the  superstitions  he  saw. 

The  erroneous  worship  which  he  had 
seen  ran  strongly  in  his  mind ;  he  was 
miserable,  to  behold  a  whole  country  sunk 
into  such  idolatry,  when  the  truth  of  the 
gospel  might  be  so  easily  obtained.  He, 
therefore,  took  the  inconsiderate,  though 
laudable  design,  into  his  head,  of  making 
a  reform  in  Portugal,  or  perishing  in  the 
attempt ;  and  determined  to  sacrifice  his 
prudence  to  his  zeal,  though  he  became  a 
martyr  upon  the  occasion. 

To  this  end  he  settled  all  his  worldly 
affairs,  paid  his  debts,  closed  his  books, 
and  consigned  over  his  merchandise.  On 
the  ensuing  Sunday  he  went  again  to  the 
cathedral  church,  with  a  New  Testament 
in  his  hand,  and  placed  himself  near  the 
altar. 

The  king  and  the  court  soon  appeared, 

and  a  cardinal  began  mass  :   at  that  part  of 

the  ceremony  in  which  the  people  adore 

the   wafer,   Gardener    cou'd    hold   out    no 

William  GAHDENERwas  born  at  Bristol,  I  longer,  but  springing  toward  the  cardinal, 

received  a  tolerable  education,  and  was,  at  <  he  snatched  the  host  from  him,  and  trampled 

a  proper  age,  placed  under  the  care  of  a    it  under  his  feet. 

merchant,  named  Paget.  j      This  action  amazed  the  whole  congrega- 


"  Jesus,  who  dies  a  world  to  save, 
Revives,  and  rises  from  the  grave, 

By  his  almighty  power  ; 
From  sin  and  death,  and  hell,  set  free, 
He  captive  leads  captivity, 

And  lives  to  die  no  more. 

"  The  Lord,  who  spoke  the  world  from  naught, 
Hath  for  poor  sinners  dearly  bought, 

Salvation  by  his  blood  ; 
Lo  !  how  he  bursts  the  bonds  of  death, 
And  reassumes  his  vital  breath, 

To  make  our  title  good. 

u  God's  church  is  still  his  joy  and  crown, 
He  looks  with  love  and  pity  down, 

On  those  he  did  redeem  ; 
lie  tastes  their  joys,  he  feels  their  woes, 
Decrees  that  they  may  spoil  their  foes, 

And  ever  reign  in  him." 


THE    LIFE    OF    WILLIAM    GARDFNF.R. 


H 


NICHOLAS    BURTON    IN    THE    INQUISITION    AT    CADIZ. — PajTfc   151 


Pr 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


153  i 


tion,  and  one  person  drawing  a  dagger, 
wounded  Gardener  in  the  shoulder,  and 
would,  by  repeating  the  blow,  have  finish- 
ed him,  had  not  the  king  called  to  him  to 
desist. 

Gardener  being  carried  before  the  king, 
the  monarch  asked  him  what  countryman 
he  was :  to  which  he  replied  :  "  I  am  an 
Englishman  by  birth,  a  protestant  by  re- 
ligion, and  a  merchant  by  occupation.  What 
|  I  have  done  is  not  out  of  contempt  to  your 
person,  God  forbid  it  should,  but  out  of  an 
honest  indignation,  to  see  the  ridiculous 
superstitions  and  gross  idolatries  practised 
here." 

The  king,  thinking  that  he  had  been 
stimulated  by  some  other  person  to  act  as 
he  had  done,  demanded  who  was  his  abettor, 
to  which  he  replied  :  "  My  own  conscience 
alone.  I  would  not  hazard  what  I  have 
done  for  any  man  living,  but  I  owe  that  and 
all  other  services  to  God." 

Gardener  was  sent  to  prison,  and  a  gene- 
ral order  issued  to  apprehend  all  English- 
men in  Lisbon.  This  order  was  in  a  great 
measure  put.  into  execution  (some  few  es- 
caping) and   many  innocent  persons  were 


tortured  to  make  them  confess  if  they  knew 
anything  of  the  matter  ;  in  particular,  a  per- 
son who  resided  in  the  same  house  with 
Gardener  was  treated  with  unparalleled 
barbarity  to  make  him  confess  something 
which  might  throw  a  light  upon  the  affair. 

Gardener  himself  was  then  tormented  in 
the  most  excruciating  manner  ;  but  in  the 
midst  of  all  his  torments  he  gloried  in  the 
deed.  Being  ordered  for  death,  a  large  fire 
was  kindled  near  a  gibbet.  Gardener  was 
drawn  up  to  the  gibbet  by  pulleys,  and  then 
let  down  near  the  fire,  but  not  so  close  as 
to  touch  it  ;  for  they  burnt  or  rather  roasted 
him  by  slow  degrees.  Yet  he  bore  his 
sufferings  patiently,  and  resigned  his  soul 
to  the  Lord  cheerfully. 

It  is  observable  that  some  of  the  sparks 
were  blown  from  the  fire  (which  consumed 
Gardener)  toward  the  haven,  burnt  one 
of  the  king's  ships-of-war,  and  did  other 
considerable  damage.  The  Englishmen 
who  were  taken  up  on  this  occasion  were, 
soon  after  Gardener's  death,  all  discharged, 
except  the  person  that  resided  in  the  same 
house  with  him,  who  was  detained  two 
years  before  he  could  procure  his  liberty. 


THE  PERSECUTIONS  IN  ITALY. 


E  shall  now  enter  on 
an  account  of  the 
persecutions  in  Ita- 
ly, a  country  which 
has  been,  and  still 
is : — 
The  centre  of  popery. 
The  seat  of  the  pontiff. 
The   source   of    the   various    errors 
which  have  spread  themselves  over  other 
countries,  deluded  the  minds  of  thousands, 
and  diffused  the  clouds  of  superstition  and 
bigotry  over  the  human  understanding. 

In  pursuing  our  narrative  we  shall  include 
the  most  remarkable  persecutions  which 
happened,  and  the  cruelties  which  have 
been  practised  : — 


1. 
2. 

3. 


ft. 


1.  By  the  immediate  order  of  the  pope. 

2.  Through  the  power  of  the  inquisition. 

3.  At  the  instigation  of  particular  orders 
of  the  clergy. 

4.  By  the  bigotry  of  the  Italian  princes. 

"  A  pleasant  country,  in  whose  fertile  plains 

Sweet  verdure  smiles,  and  endless  plenty  reigns  ; 

But  reigns  in  vain,  while  bigotry's  control, 

With  tyrant  power  enchains  the  human  soul  j 

And  superstition  lords  it  o'er  the  mind, 

Deludes  the  sense,  or  keeps  the  reason  blind. 

The  haughty  pope,  with  triple  honors  crowned, 

In  error's  clouds  diffuses  darkness  round  ; 

And  pampered  priests  without  remorse  deceive, 

While  bigot  minds  implicitly  believe  ; 

Credit  whatever  their  wily  teachers  say, 

And,  by  command,  think,  act,  speak,  fast,  or  pray, 

But  priests,  to  no  austerities  confined, 

Mind  not  the  rules  by  which  they  others  bind , 

They  leave  to  vassal  laymen  worldly  cares, 

Sharp  penance,  meager  abstinence,  and  prayers  ; 

In  open  air  for  venal  sins  to  lie, 

To  dress  in  sackcloth,  or  the  scourge  to  ply. 


154 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


i 


Let  pining  anchorets  in  grottoes  starve, 
Who  from  the  liberties  of  nature  swerve  ; 
Who,  curbed  by  moderation,  Bparing  eat, 
And  by  false  zeal  deceived,  abstain  from  meat. 
Italian  priests  their  appetites  will  please, 
And  live  in  luxury  and  pampered  ease  ; 
But  if  their  power  enormous  you'd  control, 
A  fury  rises  in  the  bigot  soul  ; 
Malicious  r:vj;c  strains  superstition's  throat, 
And  blood  for  heresy  is  all  the  note. 
'  Use  every  instrument  they  loud  exclaim, 
To  darken  truth,  and  render  reason  tame. 
Let  the  inquisition  rage,  fresh  cruelties 


Make  the  dire  engines  groan  with  tortured  cries ; 
Let  Campo  Flori  every  day  be  strewed 
With  mangled  carcases,  and  clotted  blood ; 
Repeal  again  Lombardian  slaughter  o'er, 
And  Piedmont  valleys  drown  with  floating  gore. 
Swifter  than  murdering  angels,  when  they  fly 
On  errands  of  avenging  deity  ; 
Fiercer  than  storms  let  loose,  with  eager  haste 
Lay  cities,  countries,  realms,  whole  nature  waste  ; 
Sack,  ravish,  massacre,  destroy,  burn,  slay, 
Act  what  you  will,  so  popery  makes  its  way.' 
Bach  are  the  thoughts  that  fill  each  popish  mind, 
And  such  the  enmity  they  bear  mankind." 


THE   FIRST  PERSECUTIONS  UNDER  THE  PAPACY  IN  ITALY. 


N  the  twelfth  century  the  first 
persecutions  under  the  papacy 
began  in  Italy,  at  the  time  that 
Adrian,  an  Englishman,  was 
pope,  being  occasioned  by  the 
following  circumstances  : — 
A  learned  man,  and  an  excellent  orator 
of  Brixia,  named  Arnold,  came  to  Rome, 
and  boldly  preached  against  the  corruptions 
and  innovations  which  had  crept  into  the 
church.  His  discourses  were  so  clear, 
consistent,  and  breathed  forth  such  a  pure 
spirit  of  piety,  that  the  senators,  and  many 
of  the  people,  highly  approved  of,  and  ad- 
mired his  doctrines. 

This  so  greatly  enraged  Adrian,  that  he 
commanded  Arnold  instantly  to  leave  the 
city,  as  a  heretic.  Arnold,  however,  did 
not  comply,  for  the  senators  and  some  of 
the  principal  people  took  his  part,  and  re- 
sisted the  authority  of  the  pope. 

Adrian  now  laid  the  city  of  Rome  under 
an  interdict,  which  caused  the  whole  body 
of  clergy  to  interpose  ;  and,  at  length,  per- 
suaded the  senators  and  people  to  give  up 
the  point,  and  suffer  Arnold  to  be  banished. 
This  being  agreed  to,  he  received  his  sen- 
tence of  exile,  and  retired  to  Germany, 
where  he  continued  to  preach  against  the 
pope,  and  to  expose  the  gross  errors  of  the 
church  of  Rome. 

Adrian,  on  this  account  thirsted  for  his 
blood,  and  made  several  attempts  to  get  him 
into  his  hands  ;  but  Arnold,  for  a  long  time, 
avoided  every  snare  laid  for  him.     At  length, 


:  Frederic  Barbarossa  arriving  at  the  imperial 
dignity,  requested  that  the  pope  would  crown 
him  with  his  own  hand.  This  Adrian  com- 
plied with,  and  at  the  same  time  asked  a  fa- 
vor of  the  emperor,  which  was,  to  put  Arnold 
into  his  hands.  The  emperor  very  readily 
delivered  up  the  unfortunate  preacher,  who 
soon  fell  a  martyr  to  Adrian's  vengeance, 
being  hanged,  and  his  body  burnt  to  ashes, 
at  Apulia.  The  same  fate  attended  several 
of  his  old  friends  and  companions. 

Encenas,  a  Spaniard,  was  sent  to  Rome, 
to  be  brought 'up  in  the  Roman  catholic 
faith  ;  but  having  conversed  with  some  of 
the  reformed,  and  read  several  treatises 
which  they  had  put  into  his  hands,  he  be- 
came a  protestant.  This,  at  length,  being 
known,  one  of  his  own  relations  informed 
against  him,  when  he  was  burnt  by  order 
of  the  pope,  and  a  conclave  of  cardinals. 
The  brother  of  Encenas  had  been  taken  up 
about  the  same  time,  for  having  a  New 
Testament,  in  the  Spanish  language,  in 
his  possession ;  but  before  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  his  execution,  he  found  means 
to  escape  out  of  prison,  and  returned  to 
Germany. 

Faninus,  a  learned  layman,  by  reading 
controversial  books,  became  of  the  reformed 
religion.  An  information  being  exhibited 
against  him  to  the  pope,  he  was  apprehend- 
ed, and  cast  into  prison.  His  wife,  children, 
relations,  and  friends,  visited  him  in  his  > 
confinement,  and  so  far  wrought  upon  his  . 
mind,  that  he  renounced  his  faith,  and  ob-  > 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


155 


tained  his  release.  But  he  was  no  sooner 
free  from  confinement,  than  his  mind  felt 
the  heaviest  of  chains — the  weight  of  a 
guilty  conscience.  His  horrors  were  so 
great,  that  he  found  them  insupportable,  till 
he  had  returned  from  his  apostacy,  and  de- 
clared himself  fully  convinced  of  the  errors 
of  the  church  of  Rome.  To  make  amends 
for  his  falling  off,  he  now  openly  and 
strenuously  did  all  he  could  to  make  con- 
verts to  protestantism,  and  was  pretty  suc- 
cessful in  his  endeavors.  These  proceed- 
ings occasioned  his  second  imprisonment ; 
but  he  had  his  life  offered  him  if  he  would 
recant  again.  This  proposal  he  rejected 
with  disdain,  saying,  that  he  scorned  life 
upon  such  terms.  Being  asked  why  he 
would  obstinately  persist  in  his  opinions, 
and  leave  his  wife  and  children  in  distress  ; 
he  replied :  "  I  shall  not  leave  them  in  dis- 
tress, I  have  recommended  them  to  the  care 
of  an  excellent  trustee." — "  What  trustee  ?" 
said  the  person  who  had  asked  the  ques- 
tion, with  some  surprise :  to  which  Fa- 
ninus  answered :  "  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
trustee  I  mean,  and  I  think  I  could  not  com- 
mit them  to  the  care  of  a  better."  On  the 
day  of  execution  he  appeared  remarkably 
cheerful,  which  one  observing,  said  :  "  It 
is  strange  you  should  appear  so  merry  upon 
such  an  occasion,  when  Jesus  Christ  him- 
self, just  before  his  death,  was  in  such 
agonies,  that  he  sweated  blood  and  water." 
To  which  Faninus  replied  :  "  Christ  sus- 
tained all  manner  of  pangs  and  conflicts, 
with  hell  and  death,  on  our  account ;  and 
thus,  by  his  sufferings,  freed  those  who 
really  believe  in  him  from  the  fear  of  them." 
He  was  then  strangled,  and  his  body  being 
burnt  to  ashes,  they  were  scattered  about 
by  the  wind. 

Dominicus,  a  learned  soldier,  having 
read  several  controversial  writings,  became 
a  zealous  protestant,  and  retiring  to  Placen- 
tia,  he  preached  the  gospel  in  its  utmost 
purity,  to  a  very  considerable  congregation. 
At  the  conclusion  of  his  sermon  one  day, 
he  said :  "  If  the  congregation  will  attend 
to-morrow,  I   will  give  them  a  description 


of  anti-Christ,  and  paint  him  out  in  his 
proper  colors." 

A  vast  concourse  of  people  attended  the 
next  day  ;  but  just  as  Dominicus  was  be- 
ginning his  sermon,  a  civil  magistrate  went 
up  to  his  pulpit,  and  took  him  into  custody. 
He  readily  submitted  ;  but  as  he  went  along 
with  the  magistrate,  made  use  of  this  ex- 
pression :  "  I  wonder  the  devil  hath  let  me 
alone  so  long."  When  he  was  brought  to 
examination,  this  question  was  put  to  him  : 
"  Will  you  renounce  your  doctrines  ?"  To 
which  he  replied :  "  My  doctrines  !  I 
maintain  no  doctrines  of  my  own  ;  what  I 
preach  are  the  doctrines  of  Christ,  and  for 
those  I  will  forfeit  my  blood,  and  even  think 
myself  happy  to  suffer  for  the  sake  of  my 
Redeemer."  Every  method  was  taken  to 
make  him  recant  from  his  faith ;  but  when 
persuasions  and  menaces  were  found  in- 
effectual, he  was  sentenced  to  death,  and 
hanged  in  the  market-place. 

Galeacius,  a  protestant  gentleman,  was 
apprehended  on  account  of  his  faith.  Great 
endeavors  being  used  by  his  friends,  he 
recanted,  and  subscribed  to  several  of  the 
superstitious  doctrines  propagated  by  the 
church  of  Rome.  Becoming,  however, 
sensible  of  his  error,  he  publicly  renounced 
his  recantation.  Being  apprehended  for 
this,  he  was  condemned  to  be  burnt ;  and, 
agreeably  to  the  order,  was  chained  to  a 
stake,  where  he  was  left  several  hours  be- 
fore the  fire  was  put  to  the  fagots,  in  order 
that  his  wife,  relations,  and  friends,  who 
surrounded  him,  might  induce  him  to  give 
up  his  opinions.  Galeacius,  however,  now 
retained  his  constancy  of  mind,  and  en- 
treated the  executioner  to  put  fire  to  the 
wood  that  was  to  burn  him.  This,  at 
length,  he  did,  and  Galeacius  was  soon 
consumed  in  the  flames. 

Soon  after  this  gentleman's  death,  a 
great  number  of  protestants  were  put  to 
death  in  various  parts  of  Italy,  on  account 
of  their  faith,  giving  a  sure  proof  of  their 
sincerity  in  their  martyrdoms  : — 

"  Resigning  freely  transitory  breath, 
To  shun  the  shades  of  everlasting  death." 


THE  PERSECUTIONS  IN  CALABRIA. 


N  the  fourteenth  century,  many  I 
of  the  Waldenses  of  Pragela  > 
and    Dauphiny    emigrated    to< 
Calabria,  and  settling  in  some  \ 
waste  lands,  by  the  permission  I 
of  the  nobles  of  that  country, 
they  soon,  by  the  most  industrious  cultiva- 
tion,  made  several  wild  and  barren  spots 
appear  with  all  the  beauties  of  verdure  and  ? 
fertility. 

The  Calabrian  lords  were  highly  pleased  5 
with   their  new  subjects  and   tenants,  as  > 
they  were  honest,  quiet,  and  industrious  ;  > 
but   the   priests  of  the  country  exhibited 
several  negative  complaints  against  them  ; 
foe  not  being  able  to  accuse  them  of  any-  '> 
thing  bad  which   they  did  do,  they  founded 
accusations  on  what  they  did  not  do,  and  \ 
charged  them  : —  ) 

With  not  being  Roman  catholics  ; 

making  any  of  their  boys  priests ; 

making  any  of  their  girls  nuns ; 

going  to  mass  ; 

giving  wax  tapers  to  the  priests 

as  offerings  : 


—  going  on  pilgrimages  ; 
■  bowing  to  images. 


The  Calabrian  lords,  however,  quieted 
the  priests,  by  telling  them,  that  these 
people  were  extremely  harmless  ;  that  they 
gave  no  offence  to  the  Roman  catholics, 
and  cheerfully  paid  the  tithes  to  the  priests, 
Avhose  revenues  were  considerably  in- 
creased by  their  coming  into  the  country  ; 
and  who,  of  consequence,  ought  to  be  the 
last  persons  to  complain  of  them. 

Tilings  went  on  tolerably  well  after  this 
for  a  few  years,  during  which  the  Walden- 
ses formed  themselves  into  two  corporate 
towns,  annexing  several  villages  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  them.  At  length,  they  sent 
to  Geneva  for  two  clergymen  ;  one  to 
preach  in  each  town,  as  they  determined 
to  make  a  public  profession  of  their  faith. 
Intelligence  of  this  affair  being  carried  to  ] 


Pope  Pius  the  Fourth,  he  determined  to 
exterminate  them  from  Calabria. 

To  this  end  he  sent  Cardinal  Alexandrino, 
a  man  of  a  very  violent  temper,  and  a  furi- 
ous bigot,  together  with  tv"o  monks,  to 
Calabria,  where  they  were  to  act  as  in- 
quisitors. These  authorized  persons  came 
to  St.  Xist,  one  of  the  towns  built  by  the 
Waldenses,  and  having  assembled  the 
people,  told  them,  that  they  should  receive 
no  manner  of  injury,  or  violence,  if  they 
would  accept  of  preachers  appointed  by  the 
pope  ;  but  if  they  would  not,  they  should 
be  deprived  both  of  their  property  and 
lives  ;  and  that  their  intentions  might  be 
known,  mass  should  be  publicly  said  that 
afternoon,  at  which  they  were  ordered  to 
attend. 

The  people  of  St.  Xist,  instead  of  at- 
tending mass,  fled  into  the  woods  with  their 
families,  and  thus  disappointed  the  cardinal 
and  his  coadjutors.  The  cardinal  then 
proceeded  to  La  Garde,  the  other  town  be- 
longing to  the  Waldenses,  where,  not  to 
be  served  as  he  had  been  at  St.  Xist,  he 
ordered  the  gates  to  be  locked,  and  all  the 
avenues  guarded.  The  same  proposals 
were  then  made  to  the  people  of  La  Garde 
as  had  been  made  to  the  inhabitants  of  St. 
Xist,  but  with  this  additional  piece  of  arti- 
fice :  the  cardinal  assured  them,  that  the 
inhabitants  of  St.  Xist  had  immediately 
come  into  his  proposals,  and  agreed,  that 
the  pope  should  appoint  them  preachers. 
This  falsehood  succeeded  ;  for  the  people 
of  La  Garde  thinking  what  the  cardinal  had 
told  them  to  be  truth,  said  they  "  would 
exactly  follow  the  example  of  their  brethren 
of  St.  Xist." 

The  cardinal  having  gained  his  point  by 
deluding  the  people  of  one  town,  sent  for 
two  troops  of  soldiers,  with  a  view  to  mur- 
der those  of  the  other.  He,  accordingly, 
despatched  the  soldiers  into  the  woods,  to 
hunt  down  the  inhabitants  of  St.  Xist  like 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


157 


;  wild  beasts,  and  gave  them  strict  orders  to  i  embrace  the  Roman  catholic  persuasion, 
;  spare  neither  age  nor  sex,  but  to  kill  all  they  \  themselves  and  families  should  not  be  in- 
|  came  near.  The  troops  entered  thewoods,  jjured,  but  their  houses  and  property  should 
I  and  many  fell  a  prey  to  their  ferocity,  be-  <  be  restored,  and  none  would  be  permitted 
fore  the  Waldenses  were  properly  apprized  I  to  molest  them  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  if 
of  their  design.  At  length,  however,  they  <  they  refused  this  mercy  (as  it  was  termed) 
determined  to  sell  their  lives  as  dear  as  \  the  utmost  extremities  would  be  used,  and 
possible,  when  several  conflicts  happened,  <  the  most  cruel  deaths  the  certain  conse- 
in  which  the  half-armed  Waldenses  per-  quence  of  their  non-compliance, 
formed  prodigies  of  valor,  and  many  were  \  Notwithstanding  the  promises  on  one  side, 
slain  on  both  sides.  The  greatest  part  of  and  menaces  on  the  other,  these  worthy 
the  troops  being  killed  in  the  different  people  unanimously  refused  to  renounce 
rencounters,  the  rest  were  compelled  to  \  their  religion,  or  embrace  the  errors  of 
retreat,  which  so  enraged  the  cardinal,  that  i  popery.  This  exasperated  the  cardinal 
he  wrote  to  the  viceroy  of  Naples  for  rein-  \  and  viceroy  so  much,  that  thirty  of  them 
forcements.  \  were  ordered  to  be  put  immediately  to  the 

The  viceroy  immediately  ordered  a  pro-  \  rack,  as  a  terror  to  the  rest, 
clamation  to  be  made  throughout  all  the  \  Those  who  were  put  to  the  rack  were 
Neapolitan  territories,  that  all  outlaws,  i  treated  with  such  severity,  that  several  died 
deserters,  and  other  proscribed  persons,  \  under  the  tortures  ;  one  Charlin,  in  particu- 
should  be  freely  pardoned  for  their  respec-  \  lar,  was  so  cruelly  used,  that  his  belly  burst, 
tive  offences,  on  condition  of  making  a  \  his  bowels  came  out,  and  he  expired  in  the 
campaign  against,  the  inhabitants  of  St.  \  greatest  agonies.  These  barbarities,  how- 
Xist,  and  continuing  under  arms  till  those  s  ever,  did  not  answer  the  purposes  for  which 
people  were  exterminated.  s  they  were  intended  ;  for  those  who  remain- 

Many  persons,  of  desperate  fortunes,  came  s  ed  alive  after  the  rack,  and  those  who  had 
in  upon  this  proclamation,  and  being  formed  not  felt  the  rack,  remained  equally  constant 
into  light  companies,  were  sent  to  scour  the  in  their  faith,  and  boldly  declared,  that  no 
woods,  and  put  to  death  all  they  could  meet  I  tortures  of  body,  or  terrors  of  mind,  should 
with  of  the  reformed  religion.  The  vice-  I  ever  induce  them  to  renounce  their  God,  or 
roy  himself  likewise  joined  the  cardinal,  at  >  worship  images. 

the  head  of  a  body  of  regular  forces  ;  and,  Several  were  then,  by  the  cardinal's 
in  conjunction,  they  did  all  they  could  to-order,  stripped  stark  naked,  and  whipped 
harass  the  poor  people  in  the  woods.  Some  j  to  death  with  iron  rods  ;  some  were  hack- 
they  caught,  and  hanged  up  upon  trees,  cut  I  ed  to  pieces  with  large  knives  ;  others  were 
down  boughs,  and  burnt  them,  or  ripped  \  thrown  down  from  the  top  of  a  large  tower; 
them  open,  and  left  their  bodies  to  be  de-  \  and  many  were  covered  over  with  pitch,  and 
voured  by  wild  beasts,  or  birds   of  prey.  <;  burnt  alive. 

Many  they  shot  at  a  distance,  but  the  <  One  of  the  monks  who  attended  the  car- 
greatest  number  they  hunted  down  by  way  <  dinal,  being  naturally  of  a  savage  and  cruel 
of  sport.  A  kw  hid  themselves  in  caves  -t  <  disposition,  requested  of  him,  that  he  might 
but  famine  destroyed  them  in  their  retreat  ;  <  shed  some  of  the  blood  of  these  poor  people 
and  thus  all  these  poor  people  perished,  by  j  with  his  own  hands  ;  when  his  request  be- 
various  means,  to  glut  the  bigoted  malice  s  ing  granted,  the  barbarous  man  took  a  large, 
of  their  merciless  persecutors.  I  sharp  knife,  and  cut   the  throats  of  four- 

The  inhabitants  of  St.  Xist  were  no  I  score  men,  women,  and  children,  with  as 
sooner  exterminated,  than  those  of  La  Garde  little  remorse  as  a  butcher  would  have  killed 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  cardinal  and  \  so  many  sheep.  Every  one  of  these  bodies 
viceroy.     It  was  offered,  that  if  they  would  \  were  then  ordered   to    be    quartered,   the 


~a. 


158 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MAIITYROLOGY. 


quarters  placed  upon  stakes,  and  then  fixed 
in  different  parts  of  the  country,  within  a 
circuit  of  thirty  miles. 

The  four  principal  men  of  La  Garde 
were  hanged,  and  the  clergyman  was  thrown 
from  the  top  of  his  church  steeple.  He  was 
terribly  mangled,  but  not  quite  killed,  by 
the  fall  ;  at  which  time  the  viceroy  passing 
by,  said  :  "  Is  the  dog  yet  living  ?  Take 
him  up,  and  give  him  to  the  hogs  ;"  when, 
brutal  as  this  sentence  may  appear,  it  was 
executed  accordingly. 

Sixty  women  were  racked  so  violently,  > 
that  the  cords  pierced  their  arms  and  legs  j 
quite  to  the  bone  :  when,  being  remanded  ] 
to  prison,  their  wounds  mortified,  and  they  \ 
died  in  the  most  miserable  manner.  Many  ) 
others  were  put  to  death  by  various  cruel  $ 
means  ;  and  if  any  Roman  catholic,  more  > 
compassionate  than  the  rest,  interceded  for  > 
any  of  the  reformed,  he  was  immediately  j 
apprehended,  and  shared  the  same  fate. 

The  viceroy  being  obliged  to  march  back 
to  Naples,  on  some  affairs  of  moment  which 
required  his  presence,  and  the  cardinal  hav- 
ing been  recalled  to  Rome,  the  marquis  of 
Butiane  was  ordered  to  put  the   finishing  > 
stroke  to  what  they  had  began  ;  which  he,  < 
at  length,    affected,   by   acting   with   such 
barbarous  rigor,  that  there  was  not  a  single  j 
person  of  the  reformed  religion  left  living  \ 
in  all  Calabria.  \ 


Thus  were  a  great  number  of  inoffensive 
and  harmless  people  deprived  of  their  pos- 
sessions, robbed  of  their  property,  driven 
from  their  homes,  and,  at  length,  murdered, 
by  various  means,  only  because  they  would 
not  sacrifice  their  consciences  to  the  super- 
stitions of  others,  embrace  idolatrous  doc- 
trines which  they  abhorred,  and  accept  of 
teachers  whom  they  could  not  believe. 
Tyranny  is  of  three  kinds,  viz. :  that  which 
enslaves  the  person,  that  which  seizes  the 
property,  and  that  which  prescribes  and 
dictates  to  the  mind.  The  first  two  sorts 
may  be  termed  civil  tyranny,  and  have  been 
practised  by  arbitrary  sovereigns  in  all  ages, 
who  have  delighted  in  tormenting  the  per- 
sons, and  stealing  the  property  of  their  un- 
happy subjects.  But  the  third  sort,  viz., 
prescribing  and  dictating  to  the  mind,  may 
be  called  ecclesiastical  tyranny  ;  and  this  is 
the  worst  kind  of  tyranny,  as  it  includes 
the  other  two  sorts  ;  for  the  Romish  clergy 
not  only  torture  the  bodies,  and  seize  the 
effects  of  those  they  persecute,  but  take  the 
lives,  torment  the  minds,  and,  if  possible, 
would  tyrannize  over  the  souls  of  the  un- 
happy victims. 

"  Thus  rage,  by  superstition  led, 
Strikes  innocence  and  virtue  dead  ; 
While  bigotry  would  reason  blind, 
Enthrall  the  sense,  and  chain  the  mind  ; 
Its  errors  fix  in  bloody  streams, 
And  spread,  with  fire,  its  fatal  dreams." 


INDIVIDUALS  MARTYRED  IN  DIFFERENT  PARTS  OF  ITALY, 


OHN  MOLLIUS  was  born 

at    Rome,    of    reputable 

parents.     At  twelve  years 

of  age  they  placed  him  in 

the    monastery    of    Gray 

Friars,    where    he    made 

such  a  rapid  progress  in  arts,  sciences,  and 

languages,  that  at  eighteen  years  of  age  he 

was  permitted  to  take  priest's  orders. 

He  was   then  sent    to  Ferrara,   where, 


after  pursuing  his  studies  six  years  longer, 
he  was  made  theological  reader  in  the  uni- 
versity of  that  city.     He  now,  unhappily , 
exerted  his   great  talents   to  disguise  the 
gospel  truths,  and  to  varnish  over  the  errors 
of  the  church  of  Rome.     After  some  years' 
residence   at  Ferrara,  he  removed  to   the 
;  university  of  Bononia,  where  he  became  a 
i  professor.      Having    read    some    treatises 
:  written  by   ministers  of  the  reformed  re- 


MiKTYRDO.M    OF    FRANCIS    GAMBA.    A    LOMBARD. — Page  159. 


R 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


161 


ligion,  he  grew  fully  sensible  of  the  errors 
of  popery,  and  soon  became  a  zealous  prot- 
estant  in  his  heart. 

He  now  determined  to  expound,  accord- 
ing to  the  purity  of  the  gospel,  St.  Paul's 
Epistles  to  the  Romans,  in  a  regular  course 
of  sermons.  The  concourse  of  people  that 
continually  attended  his  preaching  was  sur- 
prising ;  but  when  the  priests  found  the 
tenor  of  his  doctrines,  they  despatched  an 
account  of  the  affair  to  Rome  ;  when  the 
pope  sent  a  monk,  named  Cornelius,  to 
Bononia,  to  expound  the  same  epistles  ac- 
cording to  the  tenets  of  the  church  of  Rome. 
The  people,  however,  found  such  a  dis- 
parity between  the  two  preachers,  that  the 
audience  of  Mollius  increased,  and  Corne- 
lius was  forced  to  preach  to  empty  ben- 
ches. 

Cornelius  wrote  an  account  of  his  bad 
success  to  the  pope,  who  immediately  sent 
an  order  to  apprehend  Mollius,  who  was 
seized  upon  accordingly,  and  kept  in  close 
confinement.  The  bishop  of  Bononia  sent 
him  word,  that  he  must  recant,  or  be  burnt: 
but  he  appealed  to  Rome,  and  was  removed 
thither. 

At  Rome  he  begged  to  have  a  public 
trial,  but  that  the  pope  absolutely  denied  him, 
and  commanded  him  to  give  an  account  of 
his  opinions  in  writing,  which  he  did  under 
the  following  heads  : — 
Original  sin.  Mass. 

Free-will.  Auricular  confession. 

The     infallibility    of  Prayers  for  the  dead. 

the  churchof  Rome.  The  host. 
The    infallibility    of  Prayers  to  saints. 

the  pope.  Goingon  pilgrimages. 

Justification  by  faith.  Extreme  unction. 
Purgatory.  Performing  service  in 

Transubstantiation.        an  unknown  tongue, 
&c. 

And  all  these  he  confirmed  from  scrip- 
ture authority.  The  pope,  upon  this  occa- 
sion, for  political  reasons,  spared  him  for 
the  present,  but  soon  after  had  him  appre- 
hended, and  put  to  death;  he  being  first 
hanged,  and  his  body  burnt  to  ashes,  A.  D. 
1553. 


|      The  year  after  Francis  Gamba,  a  Lorn-  : 

>  bard,  of  the  protestant  persuasion,  was  ap-  ; 

i  prehended,  and  condemned  to  death  by  the  ; 

j  senate  of  Milan.     At  the  place  of  execu-  ; 

I  tion,  a  monk  presented  a  cross  to  him  ;    to  ] 

whom  he  said  :  "  My  mind  is  so  full  of  the  ; 

j  real  merits  and  goodness  of  Christ,  that  I  : 

',  want  not  a  piece  of  senseless  stick  to  put  ' 

me  in  mind  of  him."     For  this  expression  : 

his  tongue  was  bored  through,  and  he  was 

afterward  burnt.     (See  engraving.) 

A.  D.  1555,  Algerius,  a  student  in  the 
university  of  Padua,  and  a  man  of  great 
learning,  having  embraced  the  reformed  re-  ! 
ligion,  did  all  he  could  to  convert  others. 
For  these  proceedings  he  was  accused 
of  heresy  to  the  pope,  and  being  appre- 
hended, was  committed  to  the  prison  at 
Venice,  where  being  allowed  the  use  of 
pen,  ink,  and  paper,  he  wrote  to  his  con- 
verts at  Padua  the  following  celebrated 
epistle  : — 

"  Dear  Friends  :  I  can  not  omit  this 
opportunity  of  letting  you  know  the  sincere 
pleasures  I  feel  in  my  confinement ;  to  suf- 
fer for  Christ  is  delectable,  indeed ;  to  un- 
dergo a  little  transitory  pain  in  this  world,  j 
for  his  sake,  is  cheaply  purchasing  a  rever- 
sion of  eternal  glory,  in  a  life  that  is  ever- 
lasting. 

"  Hence,   I    have  found    honey   in    the 
entrails  of  a  lion  ;  a  Paradise  in  a  prison  ; 
tranquillity  in  the  house  of  sorrow  :   where  ; 
others  weep  I  rejoice  ;  where  others  trem-  ; 
ble  and  faint,  I  find  strength  and  courage. 
The  Almighty  alone  confers  these  favors   : 
on  me  ;   be  his  the  glory  and  the  praise. 

"  How  different  do  I  find  myself  from 
what  I   was    before  I  embraced  the  truth 
in   its   purity  :   I   was  then  dark,  doubtful,  ; 
and  in  dread  ;  I  am  now  enlightened,  cer-  i 
tain,  and  full  of  joy.     He  that  was  far  from  j 
me  is  now  present  with  me  ;  he  comforts  | 
my  spirits,  heals  my  griefs,  strengthens  my 
mind,  refreshes  my  heart,  and  fortifies  my  i 
soul.     Learn,  therefore,  how  merciful  and  ■> 
amiable  the  Lord  is,  who  supports  his  ser-  5 
j  vants  under  temptations,  expels  their  sor- 
i  rows,  lightens   their  afflictions,   and   even 


162 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


visits  them  with  his  glorious  presence,  in  j  to  judge  of  my  sensations  upon  the  occa- 


$  the  gloom  of  a  dismal  dungeon. 

"  Your  sincere  friend, 

"  Algerius." 


sion  ;  my  tears  now  wash  the  paper  upon 
which  I  give  you  the  recital.  Another 
tiling    I   must  mention,  the  patience  with 


The  pope,  being  informed  of  Algerius's  j  which  they  met  death  :  they  seemed  all 
great  learning,  and  surprising  natural  abili-  I  resignation  and  piety,  fervently  praving  to 
ties,  thought  it  would  be  of  infinite  service  j  God,  and  cheerfully  encountering  their  fate, 
to  the  church  of  Rome,  if  he  could  induce  <  I  can  not  reflect,  without  shuddering,  how 
him  to  forsake  the  protestant  cause.  He, '  the  executioner  held  the  bloody  knife  be- 
therefore,  sent  for  him  to  Rome,  and  tried,  \  tween  his  teeth;  what  a  dreadful  figure  heap- 
by  the  most  profarue  promises,  to  win  him  \  peared,  all  covered  with  blood,  and  with  what 
to  his  purpose.  But  finding  his  endeavors  \  unconcern  he  executed  his  barbarous  office." 
ineffectual,  he  ordered  him  to  be  burnt,  j  A  young  Englishman,  who  happened  to 
which  sentence  was  executed  accordingly.  j  be   at   Rome,  was   one  day   passing  by   a 

John  ALLOYSius,beingsent  from  Geneva  church,  when  the  procession  of  the  host 
to  preach  in  Calabria,  was  there  apprehend-  \  was  just  coming  out.     A   bishop   carried 


ed  as  a  protestant,  carried  to  Rome,  and  the  host,  which  the  young  man  perceiving, 
burnt  by  order  of  the  pope  ;  and  James  s  he  snatched  it  from  him,  threw  it  upon  the 
Bovellus,  for  the  same  reason,  was  burnt  at  s  ground,  and  trampled  it  under  his  feet,  cry- 
Messina,  s  ing  out :  "Ye  wretched  idolators,  that  neg- 
A.  D.  1560,  Pope  Pius  the  Fourth  order-  Meet  the  true  God  to  adore  a  morsel  of 
ed  all  the  protestants  to  be  severely  perse- 1  bread."  This  action  so  provoked  the 
cuted  throughout  the  Italian  states,  when  >  people,  that  they  would  have  torn  him  to 
great  numbers  of  every  age,  sex,  and  con-  >  pieces  upon  the  spot ;  but  the  priests  per- 
dition, suffered  martyrdom.  Concerning  I  suaded  them  to  let  him  abide  by  the  sentence 
the  cruelties  practised  upon  this  occasion,  >  of  the  pope, 
a  learned  and  humane  Roman  catholic  thus 
speaks  of  them,  in  a  letter  to  a  noble  lord  : 
"  I  can  not,  my  lord,  forbear  disclosing  my 
sentiments,  with  respect  to  the  persecution 
now  carrying  on  :   I  think  it  cruel  and  un- 


When  the  affair  was  represented  to  the 
pope,  he  was  so  greatly  exasperated  that 
he  ordered  the  prisoner  to  be  burnt  imme- 
diately ;  but  a  cardinal  dissuaded  him  from 
this  hasty  sentence,  saying,  it  was  better 
necessary;  I    tremble    at    the    manner    of  I  to  punish  him  by  slow  degrees,  and  to  tor- 


putting  to  death,  as  it  resembles  more  the 
slaughter  of  calves  and  sheep,  than  the 
execution  of  human  beings.  I  will  relate 
to  your  lordship  a  dreadful  scene,  of  which 
I  was  myself  an  eyewitness:  seventy 
protestants  were  cooped  up  in  one  filthy 
dungeon   together  ;  the   executioner    went 


ture  him,  that  they  might  find  out  if  he  had 
been  instigated  by  any  particular  person  to 
commit  so  atrocious  an  act. 

This  being  approved,  he  was  tortured 
with  the  most  exemplary  severity,  notwith- 
standing which  they  could  only  get  these 
words  from  him  :  "  It  was  the  will  of  God 


in  among  them,  picked  out  one  from  among    that  I  should  do  what  I  did." 

the  rest,  blindfolded  him,  led  him  out  to  an        The  pope  then  passed  this  sentence  upon 

open  place  before  the  prison,  and  cut  his  <  him  :  — 

throat  with  the   greatest   composure.     He         1.  That  he  should  be  led  by  the  execu- 

then  calmly  walked  into  the  prison  again,  j  tioner,  naked   to   the   middle,  through    the 

bloody  as  he  was,  and  with  the  knife  in  his.  j  streets  of  Rome  ; 

hand  selected  another,  and  despatched  him        2.  That  he  should  wear  the  image  of  the  j 
\  in  the  same  manner ;  and  this,  my  lord,  he  <  devil  upon  his  head  ; 

\  repeated,  till  the  whole  number  were  put  to  >      3.  That  his  breeches  should  be  painted  j 
\  death.     I  leave  it  to  your  lordship's  feelings  \  with  the  representation  of  flames  ;  j 


HL 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


163 


4.  That  he  should  have  his  right  hand 
cut  off; 

5.  That  after  having  been  carried  about 
thus  in  procession,  he  should  be  burnt. 

When  he  heard  his  sentence  pronounced, 
he  implored  God  to  give  him  strength  and 
fortitude  to  go  through  it.  As  he  passed 
through  the  streets  he  was  greatly  derided 
by  the  people,  to  whom  he  said  some  severe 
things  respecting  the  Romish  superstition. 
But  a  cardinal,  who  attended  the  proces- 
sion, overhearing  him,  ordered  him  to  be  j 
gagged. 

When  he  came  to  the  church  door,  where 
he  trampled  on  the  host,  the  hangman  cut 
off  his  right  hand,  and  fixed  it  on  a  pole. 
Then  two  tormentors  with  flaming  torches, 
scorched  and  burnt  his  flesh  all  the  rest  of 
the  way.  At  the  place  of  execution  he 
kissed  the  chains  that  were  to  bind  him  to 


the  stake.  A  monk  presenting  the  figure 
of  a  saint  to  him,  he  struck  it  aside,  and 
then  being  chained  to  the  stake,  fire  was  put 
to  the  fagots,  and  he  was  soon  burnt  to  ashes. 
A  little  after  the  last-mentioned  execu- 
tion, a  venerable  old  man,  who  had  long 
been  a  prisoner  in  the  inquisition,  was  con- 
demned to  be  burnt,  and  brought  out  for 
execution.  When  he  was  fastened  to  the 
stake  a  priest  held  a  crucifix  to  him,  on 
which  he  said :  "  If  you  do  not  take  that 
idol  from  my  sight,  you  will  constrain  me 
to  spit  upon  it."  The  priest  rebuked  him 
for  this  with  great  severity ;  but  he  bade 
him  remember  the  first  and  second  com- 
mandments, and  refrain  from  idolatry,  as 
God  himself  had  commanded.  He  was 
then  gagged,  that  he  should  not  speak  any 
more,  and  fire  being  put  to  the  fagots,  he 
suffered  martyrdom  in  the  flames. 


THE  PERSECUTIONS  OF  THE  MARQUISATE  OF  SALUCES, 


HE  nrarquisate  of  Saluces, 
on  the  south  side  of  the 
valleys  of  Piedmont,  was 
in  A.  D.  1561,  princi- 
pally inhabited  by  prot- 
estants  ;  when  the  mar- 
quis, who  was  proprietor  of  it,  began  a 
prosecution  against  them  at  the  instigation 
of  the  pope.  He  began  by  banishing  the 
ministers,  and  if  any  of  them  refused  to 
leave  their  flocks  they  were  sure  to  be  im- 
prisoned, and  severely  tortured ;  however,  he 
did  not  proceed  so  far  as  to  put  any  to  death. 
Soon  after  the  marquisate  fell  into  the 
possession  of  the  duke  of  Savoy,  who  sent 
circular  letters  to  all  the  towns  and  villages, 
that  he  expected  the  people  should  all  con- 
form to  go  to  mass. 

The  inhabitants  of  Saluces,  upon  re- 
ceiving this  letter,  returned  for  answer  the 
following  general  epistle  : — 

"  May  it  please  your  highness :  We 
humbly  entreat  your  permission  to  continue 


in  the  practice  of  the  religion  which  we 
have  always  professed,  and  which  our 
fathers  have  professed  before  us.  In  this 
we  shall  acquit  our  consciences,  without 
offending  any  ;  for  we  are  sensible  that  our 
religion  is  founded  on  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
i  by  whose  precepts  we  are  commanded  not 
to  injure  our  neighbors. 

"  We  likewise  implore  your  protection  ; 
for  as  Jews,  infidels,  and  other  enemies  to 
Christ,  are  suffered  to  live  in  your  dominions 
unmolested,  we  hope  the  same  indulgence 
may  be  granted  to  Christians,  whose  very 
faith  obliges  them  to  be  harmless,  honest, 
inoffensive,  and  loyal. 

"  We  remain  your  highness's  respectful, 
obedient,  and  faithful  subjects, 

"  The  Protestant  Inhabitants  of 
the  Marquisate  of  Saluces." 

The  duke,  after  reading  this  letter,  did 
not  interrupt  the  protestants  for  some  time  ; 
but,  at  length,  he  sent  them  word,  that  they 
must  either  conform  to  go  to  mass,  or  leave 


-35 


164 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


his  dominions  in  fifteen  days.  The  prot- 
estants,  upon  this  unexpected  edict,  sent  a 
deputy  to  the  duke  to  obtain  its  revocation, 
or  at  least  to  have  it  moderated.  But  their 
remonstrances  were  in  vain,  and  they  were 
given  to  understand  that  the  edict  was  ab- 
]  solute. 

Some  were  weak  enough  to  go  to  mass, 


in  order  to  avoid  banishment,  and  preserve 
their  property  ;  others  removed,  with  all 
their  effects,  to  different  countries  ;  and 
many  neglected  the  time  so  long,  that  they 
were  obliged  to  abandon  all  they  were 
worth,  and  leave  the  marquisate  in  haste. 
Those,  who  unhappily  stayed  behind,  were 
seized,  plundered,  and  put  to  death. 


THE   PERSECUTIONS  IN  THE  VALTOLINE. 


HIS  fine  district  belonged 
to  the  Grison  lords,  who, 
as  pretty  sovereigns,  had 
granted  several  decrees  in 
favor  of  the  protestants. 
The  papists,  however,  of 
the  Valtoline,  bore  them  great  malice,  which 
first  appeared  publicly  at  the  village  of 
Tell,  where  they  broke  into  a  protestant 
congregation  while  the  minister  was  preach- 
ing, and  murdered  several  of  the  people. 

They  afterward  surrounded  the  village, 
and  guarded  all  the  avenues  :  then  parading 
the  streets,  if  any  protestants  made  their 
appearance,  they  were  shot  immediately. 
Many  that  were  sick  were  strangled  in 
their  beds  ;  others  had  their  brains  beat  out 
with  clubs  :  and  several  were  drowned  in 
the  river  Alba. 

A  nobleman,  who  had  hid  himself,  being 
discovered,  he  implored  their  pity  on  ac- 
count of  his  family,  having  a  number  of 
children.  This  papists,  however,  told  him, 
that  this  was  no  time  for  mercy,  unless  he 
would  renounce  his  faith.  To  which  he 
replied :  "  God  forbid,  that  to  save  this 
temporary  life,  I  should  deny  my  Redeem- 
er, and  perish  eternally."  These  words 
were  scarcely  out  of  his  mouth,  when  they 
fell  upon  him,  and  cut  him  to  pieces. 

The  chief  magistrate  of  the  village  being 
a  protestant,  they  broke  into  his  house,  and 
murdered  him  and  his  whole  family.  Wo- 
men and  girls  they  put  to  death  by  various 
means,  viz.: — 


Hanging.  Frying  in  a  dry  pan. 

Broiling.  Stabbing. 

Ripping  open.  Beheading. 

Cutting  the  throat.       Stoning. 
<j  Worrying  with  dogs.  Boiling  in  oil. 

<  Worrying,  by  fasten-  Pouringhotleaddown 

<  ing  cats  to  several      the  throat, 
parts  of  the  body.   Racking,  &c,  &c. 

I  Drowning. 

In  short,  in  Tell  and  its  neighborhood, 
there  only  escaped,  with  their  lives,  three 
persons,  who  happily  passed  the  Alps,  and 
secured  themselves  in  Rhetia. 

The  papists,  having  thus  exterminated 
the  protestants  at  Tell,  now  marched  in 
triumph  to  a  town  at  some  miles'  distance, 
and  persuading  the  popish  inhabitants  to 
join  them,  they  determined  to  repeat  the 
same  bloody  tragedy.  Being  informed,  by 
two  friars,  that  a  protestant  congregation 
was  then  assembled  in  the  town,  they  went 
to  the  place,  surrounded  it,  shot  many 
through  the  windows,  knocked  others  on 
the  head  who  attempted  to  run  out,  and 
then  setting  the  place  on  fire,  burnt  the  rest. 

After  thus  destroying  those  who  had 
met  together  to  serve  God,  they  visited  the 
private  houses  of  protestants,  and  having 
murdered  all  they  could  find,  proceeded 
with  drums  beating,  and  colors  flying,  to 
the  town  of  Sondress.  On  their  approach, 
the  papists  of  the  town  pretended,  they  did 
not  approve  of  the  proceedings  of  those 
who  were  coming;  and,  therefore,  if  the 
protestants  thought  proper  to  put  confidence 


BL 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


165 


in  them,  they  would  guard  them  from  the 
impending  danger.  Most  of  the  protestants 
indiscreetly  believed  them,  and  the  papists 
arming  themselves,  surrounded  the  intended 
victims,  under  the  pretence  of  protecting 
them  ;  but  no  sooner  did  their  bloody  breth- 
ren appear,  than  they  treacherously  murder- 
ed those  whom  they  had  promised  to  de- 
fend. However,  eighteen  men,  who  sus- 
pected the  sinister  designs  of  the  Roman 
catholics,  had  well  armed  themselves,  and 
taking  their  wives  and  children  with  them, 
they  determined  to  attempt  an  escape.  They 
marched  with  great  regularity,  and  were 
frequently  attacked  by  the  papists,  but  they 
repulsed  them  with  great  bravery,  and  kept 
in  so  compact  a  body,  that  the  papists 
could  not  break  them.  They  proceeded 
in  this  manner  till  they  came  to  a  church, 
where  they  found  seventy-three  men  armed, 
who  were  all  protestants.  This  body  they 
joined,  and  both  proceeded  together  through 


the  valley  of  Malone,  where  the  papists 
made  several  unsuccessful  attacks  upon 
them  ;  for,  by  the  providence  of  God,  they 
passed  the  Alps,  and  arrived  in  a  place  of 
safety. 

The  property  of  those  who  were  mur- 
dered, or  made  their  escape,  became  the 
plunder  of  the  papists  who  had  committed 
these  cruelties  ;  and  they  paid  themselves 
for  their  inhumanity,  by  stealing  the  effects 
of  those  they  had  destroyed. 

Dominico  Berto,  a  protestant  youth  of 
sixteen,  was  set  upon  an  ass  with  his  face 
to  the  tail,  and  the  tail  in  his  hand  for  a 
bridle.  In  this  manner  he  was  led  round 
the  town  for  the  derision  of  the  populace  ; 
when  being  taken  to  the  market-place,  they 
cut  off  his  nose  and  ears,  bored  holes  in 
his  cheeks,  and  scarified  his  body  with 
red-hot  pincers  ;  so  that  he  expired  under 
the    excess   of  his   torments. 


A  PROTESTANT  MINISTER  TORN  TO  PIECES  BY  DOGS, 


POPISH  bishop,  of  a  very 
cruel  nature,  presided  over 
a  considerable  diocese  in 
Hungary.  This  prelate 
was  superficially  learned, 
and  habitually  morose.  His 
superstition  made  him  give  a  ready  ear  to 
any  tale  which  might  be  told  him  against 
those  whom  he  called,  and  considered  as 
heretics.  His  bigotry  caused  him  to  mis- 
take malice  for  zeal,  and  his  sanguinary 
disposition  inflamed  him  to  the  greatest 
barbarities.  A  character  of  this  kind  is 
certainly  more  proper  for  the  office  of  a 
jailer  than  the  mission  of  a  preacher,  or 
for  the  business  of  an  executioner  than  the 
trust  of  a  prelate.  In  consequence  of  such 
a  temper,  joined  to  so  much  power,  this 
bishop  spoke  of  the  protestants  in  conversa- 


tion with  malice,  preached  against  them  in 
the  pulpit  with  fury,  and  treated  them, 
whenever  they  fell  into  his  hands,  with 
cruelty.  Innumerable  appear  to  have  been 
the  persons  who,  by  his  order,  were  par- 
tially tried,  condemned  unheard,  and  ex- 
ecuted without  remorse.  Shooting,  drown- 
ing, hanging,  beheading,  &c,  he  deemed 
favors,  and  thought  them  too  mild  for  her- 
etics :  a  long  imprisonment  in  a  loathsome 
dungeon,  personal  ill-usage,  scorn,  con- 
tempt, derision,  a  scanty  allowance  of  pro- 
visions, that  made  life  labor  under  a  linger- 
ing famine,  were  the  mildest  modes  of 
treatment  that  he  thought  a  protestant  de- 
served, and  the  dreadful  torments  that  he 
made  many  of  them  suffer. 

Being  informed  that  a  protestant  clergy- 
man had  arrived  from  some  distant  part  to 


166 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


one  of  the  towns  within  his  jurisdiction, 
the  bishop  sent  some  of  his  dependants  to 
apprehend  him,  and  gave  them  strict  orders 
to  bring  what  books  he  had,  to  search  for 
his  papers,  and  to  take  particular  notice  of 
what  he  was  about  when  they  apprehended 
him.  They  came  accordingly  to  the  house, 
and  waited  at  the  door  for  some  time,  when 
they  burst  into  the  place,  and  seized  him  : 
they  then  packed  up  his  books  and  papers,  j 
and  brought  him  to  the  bishop.  The 
haughty  prelate  examined  him  with  great 
ferocity,  and  treated  him  with  much  inso- 
lence. The  accusations  formed  against 
him  were  as  follow  : — 

1.  Professing  the  reformed  religion. 

2.  Keeping  by  him  the  Bible  in  the 
vulgar  tongue. 

3.  Having  in  his  possession  several 
manuscript  sermons,  apparently  written  by 
himself,  and  several  books  in  favor  of  the 
protestant  persuasion. 

To  these  charges  he  answered,  that 
the  profession  of  the  reformed  religion  was 


agreeable  to  his  conscience  ;  that  the  Bible 
was  a  precious  book  in  all  tongues  ;  that 
the  sermons  of  his  writing  were  consonant 
to  the  precepts  of  the  gospel  ;  and  the 
books  found  in  his  lodgings  were  truly 
orthodox,  and  written  by  learned  and  pious 
authors. 

His  defence  being  deemed  insufficient 
for  his  justification,  he  was  condemned  to 
death,  and  by  a  mode  of  punishment  as 
singular  as  it  was  cruel ;  which  was  by 
having  geese,  hens,  ducks,  &c,  tied  about 
his  body. 

He  was  then  compelled  to  run,  and 
dogs  set  after  him,  who,  in  attempting  to 
catch  at  and  tear  the  fowls,  tore  him  in  '> 
a  most  shocking  manner.  Jaded  with  run- 
ning, and  fatigued  with  the  weight  of  the 
feathered  creatures  tied  to  him,  he  sunk  to 
the  ground,  and  fell  a  victim  to  the  wounds 
he  received  from  the  devouring  jaws  of  the 
dogs,  who,  in  biting  and  snapping  at  what 
they  thought  their  prey,  worried  and  tore 
him  to  death.     (See  engraving.) 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  BOHEMIA. 


T  the  commencement  of 
the  reign  of  Uladislaus, 
king  of  Bohemia,  a  learn- 
ed pastor  drew  up  an  apol- 
ogy for  the  Picards,  and 
having  inscribed  it  to  the 
king  made  it  public. 

As  this  work  caused  many  to  embrace 
the  opinions  of  the  Picards,  it  gave  the 
Romish  clergy  great  offence.  To  coun- 
teract its  effects,  they  contrived  one  of  the 
most  artful  and  at  the  same  time  infamous 
schemes  that  could  enter  into  the  imagina- 
tion. This  was  to  suborn  a  cunning  and 
abandoned  villain  to  pretend  he  was  a 
Picard,  and  had  been  an  elder  among  the 
people  of  that  denomination,  but  shocked 
with  their  abominable  practices,  had  quitted 
both  their  religion  and  rocks,  and  came  to 


Prague   to   embrace   the   Roman   catholic 
persuasion. 

This  impostor  made  a  pretended  abjura- 
tion of  protestantism  in  the  cathedral  church 
of  Prague,  and  then  inveighed  bitterly  against 
the  Picards,  pretending  great  contrition  for 
having  been  one  of  their  sect.  The  priest 
likewise  published  his  cure,  containing  his 
reasons  for  leaving  the  Picards,  and  his 
charges  against  them,  which  were  as  fol- 
low : — 

1.  That  they  were  guilty  of  blasphemy  ; 

2.  Prayed  not  to  the  Virgin  Mary  ; 

3.  Abused  the  saints  ; 

4.  Traduced  the  sacraments  ; 

5.  Mingled  themselves  incestuously  ; 

6.  Committed  fornication  ; 

7.  Were  guilty  of  adultery  ; 

8.  Thought  murder  no  crime  ; 


A  PROTESTANT  MINISTER  IN  HUNGARY  TORN  TO  PIECES  BY  DOGS. — Pasre  167. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


169 


9 


9.  Were  thieves  ;  <      Immediately  after  the  publication  of  the 

10.  Practised  lying  ;  <  edict,  six  protestants  were  seized  at  Prague, 

11.  Encouraged  perjury;  <  and  condemned  to  the  flames.     When  the^ 

12.  Took  a  pride  in  drunkenness  j  came  to  the  place  of  execution,  the  presi-  j 
To  add  to  the  atrociousness  of  the  trans-  <  ding  officer,  having  a  friendship  for  one  of  | 

action,  this  scandalous  impostor  was  con-  \  the  prisoners,  entreated  him  to  recant,  and  \ 
ducted  through  most  of  the  cities  and  towns,    offered  to  give  him  a  year's  time  to  consider  ] 
and  his  case  read  in  all  the  popish  churches  i  of  it,  if  he  would  promise  his  endeavors  to 
of  Bohemia.     This  scheme  might  have  had    abjure  protestantism.     The  prisoner,  hov- 
a  dangerous  effect,  had  not  its  contrivers  I  ever,  nobly  refused  his  offer,  and  exclaimed,  ] 
defeated  themselves.     Happily  for  the  Pi-  l  "  A  year's  time  !     It  is  too  much,  too  much 
cards,  neither  the  priest  who  drew  up  the  ',  by  such  delay,  to  lose  the  company  of  these 
case,  nor  the  impostor  himself,  knew  any-  '/  worthy  companions."     Then  walking  bold-  j 
thing  of  the  country  people  they  pretended  j  ly  up  to  the  stake,  he  was  fastened  with  the 
to  describe  and  abuse :  so  that  the  publica-    rest,  and  they  were  all  burnt  together. 
tion  of  a  modest  answer  to  the  case,  by  a  j      A  gentleman  of  opulence,  who  resided   \ 
Picard  pastor,  undeceived  the  public,  and  \  at   a  beautiful  villa,  in  a  town  on  the  con-  > 
even   convinced  the  most  prejudiced   that  j  fines  of  Bohemia,  made  his  house  an  asy-  ' 
the  whole  was  a  fiction,  fabricated  by  the  <  lum  for  distressed  protestants.     Some  pa-  } 
priests,  to  answer  the  most  cruel   and  in-  <  pists  hearing  of  this,  broke  in,  and  murder-  f> 
famous  purposes.  i  ed   all  the  concealed  protestants  and  ser-  j 

The  impostor  himself  was,  at  length,  so  <  vants  ;  after  which,  five  of  the  ruffians  i 
tormented  by  his  conscience,  that  he  open-  j  found  the  gentleman  in  a  room  to  which  he  < 
ly  recanted  his  pretended  abjuration,  turned  \  had  retired,  when  they  suddenly  twisted  a 
protestant  in  reality,  confessed  all  he  had  rope  round  his  neck,  and  strangled  him.  ( 
said  to  be  a  forgery,  and  publicly  declared,  <  A  venerable  and  learned  man,  with  bis  j 
"he  had  never  been  among  the  rocks  where  \  landlady,  a  widow  of  sixty,  were  both  < 
the  Picards  resided,  or  conversed  with  a  ',  burnt  together,  with  all  their  books.  Many  \ 
Picard  in  his  life."  <  were  tortured  to  death  upon  the  rack,  some  j 

This  affair,  instead  of  injuring,  served  \  hanged,  and  others  drowned.  X 

the  cause  of  protestantism  ;  for  many  pa-  <  A  man  and  his  wife  being  sentenced  to  I 
pists,  perceiving  what  engines  were  set  at  \  death,  were  condemned  to  suffer  by  ex-  j 
work  against  the  Picards,  began  to  inquire  s  tremes  ;  that  is,  the  one  was  ordered  to  be  j 
minutely  into  their  tenets,  when  finding  the  i  burnt,  and  the  other  drowned  :  so  that  the  \ 
purity  of  the  doctrines  they  professed,  it  two  who  were  joined  by  marriage  might  \ 
induced  several  to  renounce  the  Roman  |  perish  by  different  elements,^re  and  water.  > 
catholic  persuasion,  and  embrace  their  opin-  \  Many  of  the  nobles  and  senators,  who  '> 
ions.  |  had  signed  the  edict  for  the  persecution  of 

In  the  year  1510,  an  edict  was  prepared  s  the  protestants,  meeting  with  fatal  accidents, 
for  ordering  an  immediate  and  general  \  and  untimely  deaths,  those  occurrences 
massacre  of  all  the  protestants  that  could  \  were  deemed  very  singular,  and,  at  length, 
be  found  in  Bohemia.  This  edict  was  pre-  \  by  their  frequency,  became  so  particularly 
sented  to  the  assembly  of  states  at  Prague  remarked,  that  they  gave  birth  to  a  proverb 
by  two  bishops,  but  several  of  the  Bohe-  which  still  subsists,  not  only  in  Bohemia, 
mian  nobility  opposing  it,  eighteen  months  \  but  most  other  parts  of  Germany  ;  and 
expired  before  it  could  be  brought  to  a  j  implies  : — 
determination.     At  length,  the   chancellor^  "  If  some  evil  you'd  know, 

carried  it  through  the  assembly,  and  it  was  \  To  the  Picards  turn  foe-" 

signed  by  the  king  for  publication.  \      The   emperor  Charles  V.,  in   the   year 


170 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


1547,  ordered,  that  all  the  decrees  of  the 
council  of  Trent,  against  the  protestants, 
should  be  put  in  force  with  the  utmost  rigor, 
|  in  every  part  of  his  extensive  dominions. 

This  severe  order  occasioned  a  most 
\  dreadful  persecution  throughout  the  great- 
I  est  part  of  Europe  ;  for,  as  the  emperor's 
;'  power  was  very  extensive,  so  the  cruelties 
\  practised  were  almost  innumerable.  None, 
\  however, suffered  more  than  the  protestants 
!  of  Bohemia ;  for  the  nobles  had  their 
I  estates  sequestered  ;  the  rich  merchants 
and  traders  were  fined  so  heavily,  that  their 
ruin  ensued  ;  and  the  poor,  who  had  no 
money  to  pay  by  way  of  mitigation,  for 
thinking  and  acting  right,  were — 
Racked,  Hanged, 

Burnt,  Drowned, 

Sawed  asunder,  Stabbed, 

Thrown  from  rocks,      Boiled  in  oil, 
Torn  by  wild  horses,     Cut  to  pieces, 
Immured  and  starved,    Beheaded, 
|  had  boiling  lead  poured  down  their  throats, 
\  were  thrown  on  spears,  hung  up  by  the  ribs, 
|  or  crucified  with  their  heads  downward. 

The  king  of  Bohemia,  to  complete  what 
'>  the  emperor  Charles  V.  had  begun,  issued  a 
/  proclamation,  containing  four  clauses,  viz : — 

1.  To  shut  up  all  protestant  churches  ; 

2.  To  banish  all  protestant  nobles; 

3.  To  burn  all  protestant  clergymen; 

4.  To  hang  all  protestant  schoolmasters. 
Upon  this  proclamation,  several  protes- 

\  tants,  who  had  escaped  the  persecution  by 
,  hiding  themselves,  determined  to  withdraw 
'  from  IJoheinia,  and  seek  an  asylum  in  some 
;,  other  country.  An  uninhabited  part  of 
1  Poland  was  fixed  upon  as  the  place  of  re- 
\  treat,  and  they  removed  to  it,  with  all  possi- 

<  ble  secrecy,  in   three  bands  ;    quitting  the 
place  of  their  nativity  to  enjoy  their  reli- 

|  gion  in  quiet,  and  follow  the  dictates  of  their 
•  consciences  without  molestation. 

<  "  Hut  oh  !  when  from  our  country  wo  depart, 
',    The  native  fondness  dings  around  the  heart  ; 

That  charm  that  seems  where'er  we  drew  our  breath, 
'    And  makes  our  birthplace  haum  us  e'en  to  death.'' 

But  when  these  worthy  wanderers  arri- 
ved  in   Poland   they   were   greatly  disap- 
i  pointed  ;  for  though  the  spot  they  had  fixed 


upon  for  their  residence  was  uninhabited, 
and  uncultivated,  yet  the  bishop  of  that  part 
of  the  country,  who  deemed  it  in  hisdiocese, 
procured  an  order  from  the  king  to  drive 
them  thence.  This  mandate  he  executed 
with  rigor,  and  the  poor  protestants  pro- 
ceeded to  ducal  Prussia,  where  Albert, 
duke  of  Brandenburg,  to  whom  that  country 
belonged,  appointed  them  a  district  to  in- 
habit in  the  diocese  of  a  protestant  bishop, 
named  Paul  Speratus,  who  very  kindly  re- 
ceived them,  and  assisted  them  till  they  had 
built  houses  for  their  residence,  and  cultiva- 
ted lands  for  their  subsistence. 

Several  protestants,  however,  still  re- 
mained in  the  rocks,  woods,  and  caves  of 
Bohemia,  which  the  king  well  knowing, 
ordered  rewards  to  be  set  upon  their  heads, 
but  more  particularly  for  apprehending  the 
clergy.  But  his  endeavors  were  so  little 
successful,  that  in  the  course  of  several 
months  he  could  only  procure  three  clergy- 
men, and  seven  or  eight  of  the  laity,  to  be 
taken.  One  of  the  clergymen  escaped,  in 
a  most  singular  manner,  from  a  strong  dun- 
geon in  the  castle  of  Prague,  and  got  safe 
to  Prussia,  where  he  joined  the  protestants 
who  had  emigrated  to  that  country.  Anoth- 
er was  three  times  racked,  and  then  having 
been  imprisoned  seventeen  years,  fell  a  mar- 
tyr to  the  hardships  of  his  confinement ;  and 
the  third  was  burnt  for  refusing  to  recant. 

The  baron  of  Scanaw  was  apprehend- 
ed, and  charged  with  being  a  heretic, 
and  with  having  a  treasonable  design  to 
subvert  the  government.  Being  condemn- 
ed to  the  rack,  before  the  executioners  had 
time  to  fasten  the  cords,  he  suddenly  cut 
out  his  own  tongue,  and  then  wrote  upon 
a  piece  of  paper  these  words  :  "  I  did  this 
extraordinary  action,  because  I  would  not, 
by  means  of  any  tortures,  be  brought  to 
accuse  myself,or  others,  as  I  might,  through 
the  excruciating  torments  of  the  rack,  be 
impelled  to  utter  falsehoods."  This  singu- 
lar occurrence  surprised  all  present,  but 
did  not  save  the  baron  from  the  rack,  who 
was  tormented  with  such  severity,  that  he 
soon  expired.     (See  engraving.) 


THE    BARON    OF    BCANAW    RACKED    TO    DEATH. Page   171. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


173 


) 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  BOHEMIA, 

AFTER   THE   INSTITUTION   OP    THE    HIGH   COURT    OP   REFORMERS. 


HE  emperor  Ferdinand, 
whose  hatred  to  the  Bo- 
hemian protestants  was 
without  bounds,  not  think- 
ing he  had  sufficiently 
oppressed  them,  institu- 
ted a  High  Court  of  Reformers  upon  the 
plan  of  the  inquisition,  with  this  difference, 
that  the  reformers  were  to  remove  from 
place  to  place,  and  always  to  be  attended 
by  a  body  of  troops. 

These  reformers  consisted  chiefly  of 
Jesuits,  and  from  their  decisions  there  was 
no  appeal,  by  which  it  may  be  easily  con- 
jectured, that  it  was  a  dreadful  tribunal 
indeed. 

This  bloody  court,  attended  by  a  body  of; 
troops,  made  the  tour  of  Bohemia,  in  which 
they  seldom  examined  or  saw  a  prisoner, 
suffering  the  soldiers  to  murder  the  protes- 
tants as  they  pleased,  and  then  to  make  a 
report  of  the  matter  to  them  afterward. 

The  first  victim  of  their  cruelty  was  an 
aged  minister,  whom  they  killed  as  he  lay 
sick  in  bed ;  the  next  day  they  robbed  and 
murdered  another,  and  soon  after  shot  a 
third,  as  he  was  preaching  in  his  pulpit. 

A  nobleman  and  a  clergyman,  who  re- 
sided in  a  protestant  village,  hearing  of  the 
approach  of  the  high  court  of  reformers 
and  the  troops,  fled  from  the  place,  and 
secreted  themselves.  The  soldiers,  how- 
ever, on  their  arrival,  seized  upon  a  school- 
master, and  asked  him  where  the  lord  of 
that  place  and  the  minister  were  conceal- 
ed, and  where  they  had  hid  their  treasures. 
The  schoolmaster  replied,  he  could  not 
answer  either  of  the  questions.  They 
then  stripped  him  naked,  bound  him  with 
cords,  and  beat  him  most  unmercifully  with 
cudgels.  This  cruelty,  not  extorting  any 
confession  from  him,  they  scorched  him  in 


s 


various  parts  of  his  body  ;  when,  to  gain 
a  respite  from  his  torments,  he  promised  to 
show  them  where  the  treasures  were  hid. 
The  soldiers  gave  ear  to  this  with  pleasure, 
and  the  schoolmaster  led  them  to  a  ditch 
full  of  stones,  saying,  "  Beneath  those  stones 
are  the  riches  ye  seek  for."  Eager  after 
money,  they  went  to  work,  and  soon  re- 
moved those  stones,  but  not  finding  what 
they  sought  after,  beat  the  schoolmaster  to 
death,  buried  him  in  the  ditch,  and  covered 
him  with  the  very  stones  he  had  made  them 
remove. 

Some  of  the  soldiers  ravished  the  daugh- 
ters of  a  worthy  protestant  before  his  face, 
and  then  tortured  him  to  death.  A  minister 
and  his  wife  they  tied  back  to  back,  and 
burnt.  Another  minister  they  hung  upon 
a  cross  beam,  and  making  a  fire  under  him, 
broiled  him  to  death.  A  gentleman  they 
hacked  into  small  pieces  ;  and  they  filled  a 
young  man's  mouth  with  gunpowder,  and 
setting  fire  to  it,  blew  his  head  to  pieces. 

As  their  principal  rage  was  directed 
against  the  clergy,  they  took  a  pious  prot- 
estant minister,  and  tormented  him  daily 
for  a  month  together,  in  the  following  man- 
ner, making  their  cruelty  regular,  systematic, 
and  progressive : — 

1.  They  placed  him  amidst  them,  and 
made  him  the  subject  of  their  derision  and 
mockery,  during  a  whole  day's  entertain- 
ment, trying  to  exhaust  his  patience,  but  in 
vain,  for  he  bore  the  whole  with  a  true 
Christian  fortitude. 

2.  They  spit  in  his  face,  pulled  his  nose, 
and  pinched  him  in  most  parts  of  his  body. 

3.  He  was  hunted  like  a  wild  beast,  till 
ready  to  expire  with  fatigue. 

4.  They  made  him  run  the  gantlope  be- 
tween two  ranks  of  them,  each  striking  him 
with  a  twig. 


174 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


5.  He  was  beat  with  their  fists. 

6.  He  was  beat  with  ropes. 

7.  They  scourged  him  with  wires. 

8.  He  was  beat  with  cudgels. 

9.  They  tied  him  up  by  his  heels  with 
his  head  downward,  till  the  blood  started 
out  of  his  nose,  mouth,  &c. 

10.  Theyhunghimup  by  therightarm  till 
it  was  dislocated,  and  then  had  it  set  again. 

11.  The  same  was  repeated  with  his 
left  arm. 

12.  Burning  papers,  dipped  in  oil,  were 
placed  between  his  fingers  and  toes. 

13.  His  flesh  was  torn  with  red  hot  pin- 
cers. 

14.  He  was  put  to  the  rack. 

15.  They  pulled  off  the  nails  of  his 
right  hand. 

16.  The  same  repeated  with  his  left  hand. 

17.  He  was  bastinadoed  on  his  feet. 

18.  A  slit  was  made  in  his  right  ear. 

19.  The  same  repeated  on  his  left  ear. 

20.  His  nose  was  slit. 

21.  They  whipped  him  through  the  town 
upon  an  ass. 

22.  They  made  several  incisions  in  his 
flesh. 

23.  They  pulled  off  the  toenails  of  his 
right  foot. 

24.  The  same  repeated  with  his  left  foot. 

25.  He  was  tied  up  by  the  loins,  and 
suspended  for  a  considerable  time. 

26.  The  teeth  of  his  upper  jaw  were 
pulled  out. 


27.  The  same  was  repeated  with  his 
lower  jaw. 

28.  Boiling  lead  was  poured  on  his 
fingers. 

29.  The  same  repeated  with  his  toes. 

30.  A  knotted  cord  was  twisted  about 
his  forehead  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  force 
out  his  eyes. 

During  the  whole  of  these  horrid  cruel- 
ties, particular  care  was  taken  that  his 
wounds  should  not  mortify,  and  not  to  in- 
jure him  mortally  till  the  last  day,  when  the 
forcing  out  his  eyes  proved  his  death. 

Innumerable  were  the  other  murders  and 
depredations  committed  by  these  unfeeling 
brutes,  and  shocking  to  humanity  were  the 
cruelties  which  they  inflicted  on  the  poor 
Bohemian  protestants.  The  winter  being 
far  advanced,  however,  the  high  court  of 
reformers,  with  their  infernal  band  of  mili- 
tary ruffians,  thought  proper  to  return  to 
Prague  ;  but  on  their  way  meeting  with  a 
protestant  pastor,  they  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  of  feasting  their  barbarous  eyes 
with  a  new  kind  of  cruelty,  which  had  just 
suggested  itself  to  the  diabolical  imagina- 
tion of  one  of  the  soldiers.  This  was  to 
strip  the  minister  naked,  and  alternately  to 
cover  him  with  ice  and  burning  coals.  This 
novel  mode  of  tormenting  a  fellow-creature 
was  immediately  put  in  practice,  and  the 
unhappy  victim  expired  beneath  the  tor- 
ments, which  seemed  to  delight  his  inhu- 
man persecutors. 


GENERAL  PERSECUTIONS  IN  GERMANY. 


ift^^jHE  general  persecutions  in 
Germany  were  principally 
occasioned  by  the  doctrines 
and  ministry  of  Martin  Lu- 
ther. Indeed,  the  pope  was 
so  terrified  at  the  success 
of  that  courageous  reformer,  that  he  deter- 
mined to  engage  the  emperor,  Charles  the 
Fifth,  at  any  rate,  in  the  scheme  to  attempt 
their  extirpation. 


To  this  end  : — 

1.  He  gave  the  emperor  two  hundred 
thousand  crowns  in  ready  money. 

2.  He  promised  to  maintain  twelve  thou- 
sand foots,  and  five  thousand  horses,  for  the 
space  of  six  months,  or  during  a  campaign. 

3.  He  allowed  the  emperor  to  receive 
|  one  half  of  the  revenues  of  the  clergy  of 
>  the  empire,  during  the  war. 

\      4.  He  permitted  the  emperor  to  pledge 


H 


-a 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


175 


the  abbey-lands  for  five  hundred  thousand  ;  Voes.  In  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  ) 
crowns,  to  assist  in  carrying  on  hostilities  I  Priest.  Do  you  believe  in  the  writings  > 
against  the  protestants.  I  of  the    fathers,    and   the    decrees    of  the  \ 

Thus  prompted  and  supported,  the  em-  \  councils  1 
peror  undertook  the  extirpation  of  the  prot- 1      Voes.  Yes,  if  they  agree  with  scripture.  \ 
estants,  against  whom,  indeed,  he  was  par- '      Priest.  Did  not   Martin  Luther  seduce  I 
ticularly   enraged   himself ;    and,   for   this    you  both  1  j 

purpose,  a  formidable  army  was  raised  in  i  Voes.  He  seduced  us  even  in  the  very  \ 
Germany,  Spain,  and  Italy.  \  same  manner  as  Christ  seduced  the  apostles;  \ 

The  protestant  princes,  in  the  mean-  \  that  is,  he  made  us  sensible  of  the  frailty  < 
time,  formed  a  powerful  confederacy,  in  of  our  bodies,  and  the  value  of  our  souls. 
order  to  repel  the  impending  blow.  As  This  examination  was  sufficient;  they  \ 
great  army  was  raised,  and  the  command  >,  were  both  condemned  to  the  flames,  and,  \ 
given  to  the  elector  of  Saxony,  and  the  I  soon  after,  suffered  with  that  manly  forti-  ) 
landgrave  of  Hesse.  The  imperial  forces  I  tude  which  becomes  Christians,  when  they  ', 
were  commanded  by  the  emperor  of  Ger- 1  receive  a  crown  of  martyrdom.  < 

many  in  person,  and  the  eyes  of  all  Europe  \  Henry  Sutphen,  an  eloquent  and  pious  5 
were  turned  on  the  event  of  the  war.  >  preacher,  was  taken  out  of  his  bed  in  the   \ 

At  length  their  armies  met,  and  a  despe-  >  middle  of  the  night,  and  compelled  to  walk  \ 
rate  engagement  ensued,  in  which  the  >  barefoot  a  considerable  way,  so  that  his  I 
protestants  were  defeated,  and  the  elector  >  feet  were  terribly  cut.  He  desired  a  horse,  '/ 
of  Saxony,  and  landgrave  of  Hesse,  both  /  but  his  conductors  said,  in  derision,  "  A  I 
taken  prisoners.  This  fatal  blow  was  sue-  <  horse  for  a  heretic  ;  no,  no,  heretics  may  \ 
ceeded  by  a  horrid  persecution,  the  sever-  ]  go  barefoot."  When  he  arrived  at  the  \ 
ilies  of  which  were  such,  that  exile  might  /  place  of  his  destination,  he  was  condemned  $ 
be  deemed  a  mild  fate,  and  concealment  in  I  to  be  burnt ;  but,  during  the  execution,  i 
a  dismal  wood  pass  for  happiness.  In  such  o  many  indignities  were  offered  him,  as  those  £ 
times  a  cave  is  a  palace,  a  rock  a  bed  of  \  who  attended,  not  content  with  what  he  \ 
down,  and  wild  roots  delicacies.  \  suffered  in  the  flames,  cut  and  slashed  him  j 

Those  who  were  taken  experienced  the  \  in  a  most  terrible  manner.  > 

most  cruel  tortures  that  infernal   imagina-  \      Many  were  murdered  at  Halle  ;  Middle-  $ 
tions  could  invent ;  and,  by  their  constancy  \  burg  being  taken  by  storm,  all  the  protes-  | 
evinced,  that  a  real  Christian  can  surmount  \  tants  were  put  to  the  sword,  and  great  num-  ? 
every  difficulty,  and  despise  every  danger,    bers  were  burned  at  Vienna, 
to  acquire  a  crown  of  martyrdom.  \      An  officer  being  sent  to  put  a  minister  to  \ 

Henry  Voes  and  John  Esch,  being  ap-  j  death,  pretended,  when  he  came  to  the  j 
prehended  as  protestants,  were  brought  to  j  clergyman's  house,  that  his  intentions  were  • 
examination  ;  when  Voes,  answering  for  only  to  pay  him  a  visit.  The  minister,  not  \ 
himself  and  the  other,  gave  the  following  suspecting  the  intended  cruelty,  entertained  j 
answers  to  some  questions  asked  by  a  <  his  supposed  guest  in  a  very  cordial  man-  i 
priest,  who  examined  them  by  order  of  the  I  ner.  As  soon  as  dinner  was  over,  the  '; 
magistracy: —  j  officer    said    to    some    of    his    attendants.   < 

Priest.  Were  you  not  both,  some  years  <  "  Take  this  clergyman,  and  hang  him."  I 
ago,  Augustine  friars  ?  j  The  attendants  themselves  were  so  shock-  ' 

Voes.  Yes.  i  ed,   after  the  civility  they  had  seen,  that  1 

Priest.  How  came  you  to  quit  the  bosom  |  they  hesitated  to  perform  the  commands  of 
of  the  church  of  Rome  ?  <  their  master  ;  and  the  minister  said,  "Think  ; 

Voes.  On  account  of  her  abominations.    ',  what  a  sting  will  remainon  your  conscience,  \ 

Priest.  In  what  do  you  believe  ?  \  for  thus  violating  the  laws  of  hospitality."  j 

a 


17G 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


The  officer,  however,  insisted  upon  being 
obeyed,  and  the  attendants,  with  reluctance, 
performed  the  execrable  office  of  execu- 
tioners. 

Peter  Spengler,  a  pious  divine,  of  the 
town  of  Schalet,  was  thrown  into  the  river, 
and  drowned.     Before  he  was  taken  to  the  >, 
banks  of  the  stream,  which  was  to  become  ; 
his  grave,  they  led  him  to  the  market-place, 
that  his  crimes  might  be  proclaimed  ;  which 
were,  not  going  to  mass,  not  making  con-  < 
fession,  and  not  believing  in  transubstantia-  < 
tion.     After  this  ceremony  was    over,  he < 
made   a   most   excellent    discourse   to  the  < 
people,  and  concluded  with  a  kind  of  hymn  ' 
of  a  very  edifying  nature,  which  it  would ; 
be  unnecessary  to  translate,  as  the  follow- ; 
ing  poem,  in  the  English  language,  on  the  ; 
same  subject,  and  from  the  same  text,  per-  : 
fectly  preserves  the  sentiments  :  — 

THE   CHRISTIAN    UNION. 

"  That  they  all  may  become  as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and 
I  in  thee  ;  that  they  also  may  become  in  US." — John, 
xvii.  21. 

"  Jesus,  thy  name  is  sweet  to  me, 
For  worlds  I  would  not  part  from  thee ; 
Of  all  the  names  in  heaven  above, 
There's  none  replete  like  thine  with  love. 

"  In  THEE,  immortal  beauties  shine, 
In  THEE,  th'  united  brethren  join  ; 
In  THEK,  all  ransomed  souls  delight, 
In  THEE,  thy  people's  hearts  unite. 

"  Thou  art  our  God,  and  thou  alone, 
May  we  in  spirit  all  be  one  : 
One  with  each  other  let  us  be, 
And  one  with  Christ  eternally. 


u  Thy  people,  Lord,  are  of  one  mind, 
And  each  to  each  in  hearts  conjoined  ; 
Nor  earth,  nor  hell,  nor  depth,  nor  height, 
Their  fellowship  can  disunite. 

"  Jesus,  Jehovah's  only  Son, 
With  God  the  Father  thou  art  one  ; 
So  are  thy  children  one  with  thee, 
In  sweet  and  endless  unity. 

"  The  world  may  all  to  pieces  break, 
The  earth  and  seas  endure  a  rack  ; 
The  church  of  Christ  for  ever  stands, 
Immoveable  in  Jesus'  hands." 

A  protestant  gentleman  being  ordered  to 
lose  his  head  for  not  renouncing  hisreligion, 
went  cheerfully  to  the  place  of  execution. 
A  friar  came  to  him,  and  said  these  words 
in  a  low  tone  of  voice:  "  As  you  have  a 
great  reluctance  publicly  to  abjure  your 
faith,  whisper  your  confession  into  my  ear, 
and  I  will  absolve  your  sins."  To  this 
the  gentleman  loudly  replied:  "  Trouble  me 
not,  friar,  I  have  confessed  my  sins  to  God, 
and  obtained  absolution  through  the  merits 
of  Jesus  Christ."  Then  turning  to  the  ex- 
ecutioner, he  said:  "  Let  me  not  be  pester- 
ed with  these  men,  but  perform  your  duty." 
On  which  his  head  was  struck  off  at  a 
single  blow. 

Wolfgang  Scuch  and  John  Huglin,  two 
worthy  ministers,  were  burned,  as  was 
Leonard  Ke^ser,  a  student  of  the  university 
of  Wertemburgh  :  and  George  Carpenter, 
a  Bavarian,  was  hanged  for  refusing  to  re- 
cant protestantism. 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  ENGLAND  DURING  THE  REIGN  OF  HENRY  IV, 


;HAT  we  may  not  lead  the 
reader  into  confusion,  or 
perplex  his  memory,  we 
shall  defer  what  we  have 
to  say  concerning  the 
persecutions  in  Scotland 
and  Ireland,  till  we  have  treated  of  those 
in  England.  And  here  it  is  necessary  to 
take  notice  of  some  things,  without  the 
knowledge  of  which  the  reader  will  not 
be  able  to  comprehend  the  nature  of  this 
work. 


It   is  an  established  maxim,  that  those 
who  acquire  fortunes  by  cruelty  or  any  act 
of  injustice,  enjoy  those  fortunes  with  pain 
rather   than  with  pleasure.      Whatever   a 
man  obtains  by  honest  industry,  he  spends 
it  under  the  smiles  of  a  sincere  conscience;  j 
whereas  the  person  who  either  cheats  or 
robs  his  neighbor  has  two  things  to  fear :  j 
first,  the  vengeance  of  civil  power,  under  a  \ 
variety  of  different  shapes  ;  and  secondly,  \ 
the  torturing  agonizing   pains  of  a   guilty  < 
conscience.  \ 


a 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


177 


This  leads  to  the  commission  of  new 
crimes  ;  for  as  the  man  who  has  once  told 
a  lie  generally  tells  a  hundred  more  to 
support  the  assertions  in  the  first,  so  ill- 
gotten  riches,  power,  or  honor,  stand  in  need 
of  the  same  support,  and  guilt  being  the  1 
foundation,  the  superstructure  is  raised  by 
an  accumulation  of  crimes. 

These  observations  will  in  some  measure 
apply  to  the  subject  we  are  now  upon  ;  and  > 
here  we  must  have  recourse  to  history  to  ,' 
explain   that  bloody  act,  by  which  many  I 
pious  Christians  suffered  death. 

Richard  II.  of  England  was  a  weak  \ 
prince,  and  governed  by  favorites,  many  of  I 
whom  were  foreigners  :  he  had  disgusted  j 
the  ancient  nobility,  who,  by  the  nature  of  I 
the  feudal  law,  were  impatient  of  control.  > 
He  had  given  to  some  of  these  foreigners  > 
the  wardships  of  the  young  nobility,  and  > 
this  was  sufficient  in  itself  to  create  a  vast ) 
number  of  enemies.  A  restless  nobility,  ? 
endowed  with  greater  powers  than  is  con- 1 
sistent  with  the  state  of  a  free  government,  j 
entered  into  cabals  among  themselves,  and  I 
invited  over  from  France,  Henry,  son  of< 
John  of  Gaunt,  and  made  him  an  offer  of  > 
the  crown,  upon  condition  he  would  redress  < 
those  grievances  they  complained  of.  Rich- 1 
ard  was  then  in  Ireland,  but  landing  soon  <, 
afterward,  in  Wales,  he  was  taken  prisoner  < 
and  brought  up  to  London. 

A  parliament  met  at  Westminster,  in 
which  Richard  signed  a  formal  revocation 
of  all  pretensions  to  the  crown;  and  Henry, 
duke  of  Lancaster,  was  crowned  under  the 
title  of  Henry  IV.  This  happened  in  1399, 
and  the  captive  king  was  sent  prisoner  to 
the  castle  of  Pomfret,  in  Yorkshire  :  that 
he  was  murdered  in  that  castle  can  not  be 
doubted,  but  the  time  is  uncertain.  The 
generality  of  our  historians  make  him  a 
prisoner  above  two  years  ;  but  this  is  in 
our  opinion  improbable,  for  as  Charles  I. 
said  :  "  There  are  but  few  steps  between 
the  prisons  and  the  graves  of  princes." 

Richard  had  always  been  much  favored  \ 

by  the   nobility  of  Yorkshire,  and  of  the 

other  northern  counties,  so  that  they  did  \ 
i  12 


not  approve  of  the  revolution  that  had  taken 
place,  especially  as  Henry  was  of  a  sour, 
morose,  and  cruel  disposition 

The  crown  sat  tottering  on  his  head,  and 
many  conspiracies  were  formed  against  his 
government.  Some  pretended  that  Richard 
was  still  alive,  although  nothing  can  be 
more  certain  than  that  he  had  been  mur- 
dered some  time  before,  and  undoubtedly 
soon  after  his  imprisonment. 

Henry  was  now  in  a  dismal  situation 
indeed,  there  were  few  of  the  nobility  he 
could  place  any  trust  in,  and  his  temper 
was  not  such  as  to  induce  them  to  esteem 
and  obey  him  from  motives  of  love.  His 
mind  was  tinctured  with  superstition,  and 
he  had  recourse  to  the  clergy,  that  dead 
weight  to  the  constitution,  and  at  all  times 
the  friends  of  arbitrary  power. 

The  followers  of  Wickliffe,  then  called 
Lollards,  were  become  extremely  numer- 
ous, and  the  clergy  were  vexed  to  see  them 
increase,  whatever  power  or  influence  they 
might  have  to  molest  them  in  an  underhand 
manner,  they  had  no  authority  by  law  to 
put  them  to  death.  However,  the  clergy 
embraced  the  favorable  opportunity,  and 
prevailed  upon  the  king  to  suffer  a  bill  to 
be  brought  into  parliament,  by  which  all 
Lollards  who  remained  obstinate,  should 
be  delivered  over  to  the  civil  power  and 
burnt  as  heretics.  This  act  was  the  first 
in  this  island  for  the  burning  of  people  for 
their  religious  sentiments  ;  it  passed  in 
the  year  1401,  and  was  soon  after  put  into 
execution. 

The  first  person  who  suffered  in  conse- 
quence of  this  cruel  act  was  William  San- 
tree  or  Sawtree  (for  he  is  called  by  both 
names),  formerly  parish  priest  of  the  church 
of  St.  Margaret,  in  the  parish  of  Lynn,  in 
Norfolk,  but  afterward  of  St.  Osyth,  in 
London.  It  appears  from  Dr.  Fuller's 
church  history,  that  he  had  formerly  abjur- 
ed those  articles  (for  which  he  suffered 
death),  before  the  bishop  of  Norwich. 
Therefore,  he  was  adjudged  to  be  degraded 
and  deprived,  which  was  done  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner  : — 


i 


178 


■ 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


First,  from  the  order  of  priest,  by  taking 
from  him  the  paten,  chalice,  and  plucking 
the  chasule  from  his  back. ; 

Secondly,  deacon,  by  taking  from  him 
the  New  Testament,  and  the  stole  ; 

Thirdly,  subdeacon,  by  taking  from  him 
the  alb  and  maniple; 

Fourthly,  acolyte,  by  taking  from  him 
the  candlestick  and  taper  ; 

Fifthly,  exorcist,  by  taking  from  him  the 
book  of  constitutions  ; 

Sixthly,  sexton,  by  taking  from  him  the 
key  of  the  church-door  and  surplice. 

To  all  these  indignities  this  pious  man 
submitted  with  patience,  and  sealed  his 
testimony  with  his  blood,  at  a  stake  erected 
for  that  purpose  in  Smithfield,  where  he 
was  burnt  to  death  with  many  circumstan- 
ces of  cruelty,  to  the  no  small  pleasure  of 
the  corrupted  clergy. 

It  is  necessary  in  this  place  to  observe, 
that  although  this  cruel  act  continued  in 
force  till  the  year  1732,  yet  it  was  not, 
properly  speaking,  a  law  binding  on  the 
subject.  That  it  never  passed  through  the 
house  of  commons  the  author  of  this  can 
assert,  from  the  records  now  in  the  British 
Museum.  The  commons  entered  a  protest 
against  it,  and  so  did  several  of  the  liege 
nobility  ;  but  as  there  were  no  less  than 
twenty-six  mitred  abbots  in  parliament,  be- 
sides the  bishops,  the  king  gave  his  assent, 
which  in  violent  times  was  not  much  at- 
tended to. 

Historical  integrity  obliges  us  to  take 
notice  of  all  the  consequences  of  this  bloody 
act,  down  as  far  as  our  account  of  the  pe- 
riod mentioned  in  this  chapter  reaches,  and 
therefore  we  are  led  to  mention  the  fate  of 
Sir  John  Oldcastle,  Lord  Cobham. 

Soon  after  the  bloody  statute  already 
mentioned  had  passed,  Thomas  Arundal, 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  convened  a  gen- 
eral assembly  of  the  clergy  in  the  church 
of  St.  Paul's,  in  London,  to  consult  of  mat- 
ters relating  to  the  church,  and  more  equally 
how  to  suppress  the  Lollards,  who  follow- 
ed the  doctrines  of  Wickliffe  ;  'and  their 
opinions  and  books  of  Wickliffe  were,  by 


this  synod,  said  to  contain  heresy.  The 
persons  who  made  any  use  of  them  were 
denominated  heretics,  or  Lollards,  a  term 
we  have  already  explained.  The  bishops 
and  dignified  clergy  looked  upon  the  doc- 
trines and  practices  of  the  Lollards  as 
destructive  of  church  power  ;  and  therefore 
they  found  themselves  under  the  necessity 
of  doing  all  they  could  to  suppress  them. 

In  order  thereunto  there  were  twelve 
priests  chosen  out  of  the  university  of  Ox- 
ford, who  were  to  make  diligent  search 
after,  and  apprehend  all  such  heretics  as 
they  could  lay  hold  of. 

Arundel,  the  archbishop,  already  men- 
tioned, was  of  such  a  haughty  disposition, 
and  so  much  in  love  with  religious  popular 
applause,  that  he  ordered  that  the  bells  of 
London  should  not  be  rung  for  one  whole 
week  ;  however,  he  was  not  treated  with 
that  respect  he  thought  his  dignity  becoming 
when  he  came  into  that  city.  Such  acts  of 
exorbitant  clerical  power  were  common 
enough  in  that  age,  but  even  those  acts 
paved  the  way  for  that  reformation  uuder 
which  we  now  live. 

It  is  impossible,  in  a  proper  manner,  to 
form  any  just  idea  of  the  corrupt  state  of 
the  clergy  at  this  time.  There  were  three 
popes  together,  which  occasioned  the  call- 
ing the  council  of  Constance,  to  consider 
of  these  abuses.  Happy  would  it  have 
been,  had  this  council  confined  themselves 
to  those  duties  that  became  their  characters; 
but  this  was  not  to  take  place.  It  would 
have  been  meritorious  in  them  to  have 
deposed  all  the  three  popes,  and  appointed 
a  new  one:  but  what  laughing-stocks  would 
they  then  have  made  themselves  to  the 
people  ! 

About  this  time  thirty-six  persons,  de- 
nominated Lollards,  suffered  death  in  St. 
Giles',  for  no  other  reason  than  professing 
their  attachment  to  the  doctrines  of  Wick- 
liffe. They  were  hung  on  gibbets,  and 
fagots  being  placed  under  them,  as  soon 
as  they  were  suspended,  fire  was  set  to 
them,  so  that  they  were  burnt  while  hang- 
ing.    (See  engraving.) 


EXECUTIONS    OF    THE    LOLLARDS    IN    ST.    GILES'    FIELDS.—  PiUTe   179. 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


181 


THE   LIFE,   SUFFERING,  AND    MARTYRDOM,   OF 


HUGH  LATIMER,   BISHOP   OF   WORCESTER. 

stition.  However,  the  unaffected  piety  of 
Mr.  Bilney,  and  the  cheerful  and  natural 
eloquence  of  honest  Latimer,  wrought  great- 
ly upon  the  junior  students,  and  increased 
the  credit  of  the  protestants  so  much,  that 
the  papist  clergy  were  greatly  alarmed, 
and,  according  to  their  usual  practice,  called 
aloud  for  the  secular  arm. 

Under  this  arm  Bilney  suffered  at  Nor- 
wich :  but  his  sufferings,  far  from  shaking 
the  reformation  at  Cambridge,  inspired  the 
leaders  of  it  with  new  courage.  Latimer 
began  to  exert  himself  more  than  he  had 
yet  done  ;  and  succeeded  to  that  credit  with 
his  party,  which  Bilney  had  so  long  sup- 
ported. Among  other  instances  of  his  zeal 
and  resolution  in  this  cause,  he  gave  one 
which  was  very  remarkable  :  he  had  the 
courage  to  write  to  the  king  (Henry  VIII.) 
against  a  proclamation,  then  just  published, 
forbidding  the  use  of  the  Bible  in  English, 
and  other  books  on  religious  subjects.  He 
had  preached  before  his  majesty  once  or 
twice  at  Windsor  ;  and  had  been  taken 
notice  of  by  him  in  a  more  affable  manner, 
than  that  monarch  usually  indulged  toward 
his  subjects.  But  whatever  hopes  of  pre- 
ferment his  sovereign's  favor  might  have 
raised  in  him,  he  chose  to  put  all  to  the 
hazard,  rather  than  omit  what  he  thought 
his  duty.  His  letter  is  the  picture  of  an 
honest  and  sincere  heart  :  he  concludes  in 
these  terms  :  "  Accept,  gracious  sovereign, 
without  displeasure,  what  I  have  written  ; 
I  thought  it  my  duty  to  mention  these  things 
to  your  majesty.  No  personal  quarrel,  as 
God  shall  judge  me,  have  I  with  any  man  : 
1  wanted  only  to  induce  your  majesty  to 
consider  well,  what  kind  of  persons  you 
have  about  you,  and  the  ends  for  which 
they  counsel.  Indeed,  great  prince,  many 
of  them,  or  they  are  much  slandered,  have 
very  private  ends.     God  grant  your  majesty 


UGH  LATIMER  was 
born  of  mean  parents  at 
Thirkeston,  in  Leices- 
tershire, about  the  year 
1475,  who  gave  him  a 
good  education,  and  sent 
him  to  Cambridge,  where  he  showed  him- 
self a  zealous  papist,  and  inveighed  much 
against  the  reformers,  who,  at  that  time, 
began  to  make  some  figure  in  England. 
But  conversing  frequently  with  Thomas 
Bilney,  the  most  considerable  person  at 
Cambridge  of  all  those  who  favored  the 
reformation,  he  saw  the  errors  of  popery, 
and  became  a  zealous  protestant. 

Latimer  being  thus  converted,  labored, 
both  publicly  and  privately,  to  promote  the 
reformed  opinions,  and  pressed  the  neces- 
sity of  a  holy  life,  in  opposition  to  those 
outward  performances,  which  were  then 
thought  the  essentials  of  religion.  This 
rendered  him  obnoxious  at  Cambridge,  then 
the  seat  of  ignorance,  bigotry,  and  super- 


S' 


182 


■  J 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


may  see  through  all  the  designs  of  evil  >  carefully,  and  God  grant,  that  at  our  next  \ 
men,  and  be  in  all  things  equal  to  the  high  J  meeting  we  may  find  each  other  in  better  \ 
office,  with  which  you  are  intrusted.   Where-  '/  temper." 

fore,   gracious   king,   remember    yourself;.;      The  next,  and  several  succeeding  meet-  j 
have   pity   upon  your  own  soul,  and  think  \  ings,  the  same  scene  was  acted  over  again.  \ 
that  the  day  is  at  hand,  when  you  shall  give  j  He  continued  inflexible,  and  they  continued 
account  of  your  office,  and  the  blood  which  \  to  distress  him.     Three  times  every  week 
hath   been   shed   by  your   sword  :    in   the  <  they  regularly  sent  for  him,  with  a  view 
which  day,  that  your  grace  may  stand  stead-    either  to  draw  something  from  him  by  cap-  \ 
fastly,  and  not  be  ashamed,  but  be  clear  \  tious  questions,  or  to  teaze  him  at  length 
and  ready  in  your  reckoning,  and  have  your    into  compliance.    Tired  out  with  this  usage, 
pardon  sealed  with  the  blood  of  our  Savior  \  after  he  was  summoned  at  last,  instead  of 
Christ,  which  alone  serveth  at  that  day,  is  \  going  he  sent  a  letter  to  the  archbishop,  in 
my  daily  prayer  to  him,  who  suffered  death  s  which,  with  great   freedom,  he  told  him  : 
for  our  sins.     The  spirit  of  God  preserve  I  "  That  the  treatment  he  had  lately  met  with 
you."  I  had  fretted    him  into   such   a  disorder   as 

Lord  Cromwell  was  now  grown  up  into  I  rendered  him  unfit  to  attend  that  day  ;  that  [ 
power,  and  being  a  favorer  of  the  reforma- 1  in  the  meantime  he  could  not  help  taking  \ 
tion,  he  obtained  a  benefice  in  Wil  shire  for  >  this  opportunity  to  expostulate  with  his  ' 
Latimer,  who  immediately  went  thither  and  \  grace  for  detaining  him  so  long  from  his  j 
resided,  discharging  his  duty  in  a  very  con-  j  duty  ;  that  it  seemed  to  him  most  unac-  | 
scientious  manner,  though  persecuted  much  \  countable,  that  they,  who  never  preached  \ 
at  the  same  time,  by  the  Romish  clergy ;  \  themselves,  should  hinder  others  ;  that,  as 
who,  at  length,  carried  their  malice  so  far  \  for    their   examination   of  him,   he   really 


as  to  obtain  an  archiepiscopal  citation  for  >  could   not  imagine   what   they  aimed  at; 
his   appearance   in   London.     His  friends  \  they  pretended  one  thing  in  the  beginning, 


would  have  had  him  fly  ;  but  their  persua-  and  another  in  the  progress  ;  that  if  his 
sions  were  in  vain.  He  set  out  for  London  \  sermons  were  what  gave  offence,  which  he  j 
in  the  depth  of  winter,  and  under  a  severe  \  persuaded  himself  were  neither  contrary  to  i 
fit  of  the  stone  and  colic  ;  but  he  was  most?  the  truth,  nor  to  any  canon  of  the  church,  \ 
distressed  at  the  thoughts  of  leaving  his  ?  he  was  ready  to  answer  whatever  might  be  \ 
parish  exposed  to  the  popish  clergy.     On  \  thought  exceptionable   in    them  ;    that    he  \ 


his  arrival  at  London,  he  found  a  court  of  t  wished  a  little  more  regard  might  be  had 
bishops  and  canonists  ready  to  receive  him  ;  i  to  the  judgment  of  the  people  ;  and  that  a 
where,  instead  of  being  examined,  as  he  '  distinction  might  be  made  between  the  or- 
expected,  about  his  sermons,  a  paper  was  (  dinances  of  God  and  man  ;  that  if  some 
put  into  his  hands,  which  he  was  ordered  abuses  in  religion  did  prevail,  as  was  then 
to  subscribe,  declaring  his  belief  in  the  \  commonly  supposed,  he  thought  preaching 
efficacy  of  masses  for  the  souls  in  purgatory,  \  was  the  best  means  to  discountenance 
of  prayers  to  the  dead  saints,  of  pilgrimages  >.  them  ;  that  he  wished  all  pastors  might  be 
to  their  sepulchres  and  reliques,  the  pope's  \  obliged  to  perforin  their  duty ;  but  that, 
power  to  forgive  sins,  the  doctrine  of  merit,  >  however,  liberty  might  be  given  to  those 
the  seven  sacraments,  and  the  worship  of  who  were  willing;  that  as  to  the  articles 
images  ;  which,  when  he  refused  to  sign,  \  proposed  to  him,  he  begged  to  be  excused 
the  archbishop,  with  a  frown,  begged  he  i  subscribing  to  them;  while  he  lived,  he 
would  consider  what  he  did.  "  We  intend  \  never  would  abet  superstition  ;  and  that, 
not,"  said  he,  "  Mr.  Latimer,  to  be  hard  s  lastly,  he  hoped  the  archbishop  would  ex- 
upon  you  ;  we  dismiss  you  for  the  present ;  s  cuse  what  he  had  written  ;  he  knew  his 
take  a  copy  of  the  articles  ;  examine  them  \  duty  to  his  superiors,  and  would  practise  it; 


.  A 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


183 


but  in  that  case,  he  thought  a  stronger  ob-  <  the   rest,  the  bishop  of  Worcester,  being 
ligation  laid  upon  him."  <  then  in  town,  waited  upon  the  king,  with 

I  The  bishops,  however,  continued  their  <  his  offering  ;  but  instead  of  a  purse  of  gold, 
\  persecutions,  but  their  schemes  were  frus-  <  which  was  the  common  oblation,  he  pre- 
j  trated  in  an  unexpected  manner.  Latimer  <  sentedaNewTestament,with  a  leaf  doubled 
|  being  raised  to  the  see  of  Worcester,  in  the  <  down  in  a  very  conspicuous  manner,  to  this 
i  year  1533,  by  the  favor  of  Ann  Boleyn,  \  passage  :  "Whoremongers  and  adulterers 
5  then  the  favorite  wife  of  Henry,  to  whom,  s  God  will  judge." 

',  most  probably,  he  was  recommended  by  s  In  1539  he  was  summoned  again  to  at- 
s  Lord  Cromwell,  he  had  now  a  more  exten-  \  tend  the  parliament :  the  bishop  of  Win- 
<  sive  field  to  promote  the  principles  of  the  I  chester,  Gardiner,  was  his  great  enemy  ; 

>  reformation,  in  which  he  labored  with  the  >  who,  upon  a  particular  occasion,  when  the 

>  utmost  pains  and  assiduity.  All  the  histo-  \  bishops  were  with  the  king,  kneeled  down 
I  rians  of  those  times  mention  him  as  a  per-  I  and  solemnly  accused  Bishop  Latimer  of  a 
\  son  remarkably  zealous  in  the  discharge  )  seditious  sermon  preached  at  court.  Being 
\  of  his  new  office  ;  and  tells  us,  that  in  \  called  upon  by  the  king,  with  some  stern- 
\  overlooking  the  clergy  of  his  diocese,  he  \  ness,  to  vindicate  himself,  Latimer  was  so 
!  was  uncommonly  active,  warm,  and  resolute,  \  far  from  denying  and  palliating  what  he  had 
[  and  presided  in  his  ecclesiastical  court  with  <  said,  that  he  boldly  justified  it ;  and  turning 
;  the  same  spirit.  In  visiting,  he  was  fre-  >  to  the  king,  with  that  noble  unconcern, 
\  quent  and  observant;  in  ordaining,  strict  >  which  a  good  conscience  inspires:  "I 
i  and    wary  ;    in   preaching,    indefatigable  ;  ?  never   thought    myself  worthy,"    said    he, 

>  and  in  reproving  and  exhorting,  severe  and  £  "  nor  did  I  ever  sue  to  be  a  preacher  before 

>  persuasive.  j  your  grace  ;    but   I   was  called  to  it,  and 

In  1536  he  received  a  summons  to  at-  j  would  be  willing,  if  you  mislike  it,  to  give 
\  tend  the  parliament  and  convocation,  which  \  place  to  my  betters  :  for  I  grant,  there  may 
)  gave  him  a  further  opportunity  of  promoting  be  a  great  many  more  worthy  the  room  than 
)  the  work  of  reformation,  whereon  his  hearty  I  am.     And  if  it  be  your  grace's  pleasure 

>  was  so  much  3et.  Many  alterations  were  <  to  allow  them  for  preachers,  I  can  be  con- 
\  made  in  religious  matters,  and  a  few  months  '.  tent  to  bear  their  books  after  them.     But 

>  after  the  Bible  was  translated  into  English,  |  if  your  grace  allow  me  for  a  preacher,  I 
i  and  recommended  to  a  general  perusal,  in  <  would  desire  you  to  give  me  leave  to  dis- 
|  October,  1537.  <  charge  my  conscience,  and  to  frame  my 
\  Latimer,  highly  satisfied  with  the  pros-  doctrine  according  to  my  audience.  1  had 
\  pectof  the  times, now  repaired  to  hisdiocese,  \  been  a  very  dolt,  indeed,  to  have  preached 
\  having  made  a  longer  stay  in  London  than  I  so  at  the  borders  of  your  realm,  as  I  preach 
I  was  absolutely  necessary.  He  had  no  tal-  I  before  your  grace."  The  greatness  of  his 
|  ents,  and  he  pretended  to  have  none  for  \  answer  baffled  his  accuser's  malice;  the 
I  state  affairs.  His  whole  ambition  was  to  severity  of  the  king's  countenance  changed 
|  discharge  the  pastoral  functions  of  a  bishop,  >  into  a  gracious  smile,  and  the  bishop  was 
\  neither  aiming  to  display  the  abilities  of  a'  dismissed  with  that  obliging  freedom,  which 
\  statesman,  nor  those  of  a  courtier.  How  i  this  monarch  never  used  but  to  those  he 
?  very  unqualified  he  was  to  support  the  latter  I  esteemed. 

?  of  these  characters,  the  following  story  will  I  However,  as  the  bishop  could  not  give 
1  prove  :  it  was  the  custom  in  those  days  >  his  vote  for  the  act  of  the  six  papistical 
?  for  the  bishops  to  make  presents  to  the  >  articles,  drawn  up  by  the  duke  of  Norfolk, 
I  king  on  new-year's  day,  and  many  of  them  >  he  thought  it  wrong  to  hold  any  office  in  a 

>  would  present  very  liberally,  proportioning  ]  church  where  such  terms  of  communion 
\  their  gifts  to   their   expectances.     Among  I  were  required,  and  therefore  he  resigned 


I  184 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


his  bishopric,  and  retired  into  the  country, 
where  he  purposed  to  live  a  sequestered 
life.  But  in  the  midst  of  his  security,  an 
unhappy  accident  carried  him  again  into 
the  tempestuous  weather,  which  was  abroad  : 
he  received  a  bruise  by  the  fall  of  a  tree, 
and  the  contusion  was  so  dangerous,  that 
he  was  obliged  to  seek,  out  for  better  as- 
sistance than  could  be  afforded  him  by  the 
unskilful  surgeons  of  those  parts.  With 
this  view  he  repaired  to  London,  where  he 
had  the  misfortune  to  see  the  fall  of  his 
patron,  the  lord  Cromwell :  a  loss  which 
he  was  soon  made  sensible  of;  for  Gar- 
diner's emissaries  quickly  found  him  out  in 
his  concealment,  and  something,  which 
somebody  had  somewhere  heard  him  say, 
against  the  six  articles,  being  alleged 
against  him,  he  was  sent  to  the  tower ; 
where,  without  any  judicial  examination, 
he  suffered,  through  one  pretence  or  another, 
a  cruel  imprisonment  for  the  remaining  six 
years  of  King  Henry's  reign. 

On  the  death  of  Henry,  the  protestant 
interest  revived  under  his  son  Edward  ; 
and  Latimer,  immediately  upon  the  change 
of  the  government,  was  set  at  liberty.  An 
address  was  made  by  the  protector,  to  re- 
store him  to  his  bishopric  :  the  protector 
was  very  willing  to  gratify  the  parliament, 
and  proposed  the  resumption  of  his  bishop- 
ric to  Mr.  Latimer  ;  who  now  thinking  him- 
self unequal  to  the  weight  of  it,  refused  to  re- 
sume it,  choosing  rather  to  accept  an  invi- 
tation from  his  friend,  Archbishop  Cranmer, 
and  to  take  up  his  residence  with  him  at 
Lambeth  ;  where  his  chief  employment  was 
to  hear  the  complaints,  and  redress  the 
grievances  of  the  poor  people  ;  and  his 
character,  for  services  of  this  kind,  was  so 
universally  known,  that  strangers  from  every 
part  of  England  would  resort  to  him. 

In  these  employments  he  spent  more 
than  two  years,  during  which  time  he  as- 
sisted the  archbishop  in  composing  the 
homilies,  which  were  set  forth  by  authori- 
ty, in  the  first  year  of  King  Edward  :  he 


was  also  appointed  to  preach  the  Lent 
sermons  before  his  majesty,  which  office 
he  also  performed  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  reign. 

Upon  the  revolution,  which  happened  at 
court  after  the  death  of  the  duke  of  Somer- 
set, he  retired  into  the  country,  and  made 
useof  the  king's  license  as  ageneral  preach- 
er in  those  parts,  where  he  thought  his  la- 
bors might  be  most  serviceable. 

He  was  thus  employed  during  the  re- 
mainder of  that  reign,  and  continued  the 
same  course,  for  a  short  time,  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  next ;  but  as  soon  as  the  re- 
introduction  of  popery  was  resolved  on, 
the  first  step  toward  it  was  the  prohibition 
of  all  preaching,  and  licensing  only  such 
as  were  known  to  be  popishly  inclined. 
The  bishop  of  Winchester,  who  was  now 
prime-minister,  having  proscribed  Mr.  Lat- 
imer from  the  first,  sent  a  message  to  cite 
him  before  the  council.  He  had  notice 
of  this  design  some  hours  before  the  mes- 
senger's arrival,  but  he  made  no  use  of  the 
intelligence.  The  messenger  found  him 
equipped  for  his  journey,  at  which,  ex- 
pressing his  surprise,  Mr.  Latimer  told 
him,  that  he  was  ready  to  attend  him  to  Lon- 
don, thus  called  upon  to  answer  for  his 
faith,  as  he  ever  was  to  take  any  journey 
in  his  life  ;  and  that  he  doubted  not  but 
that  God,  who  had  enabled  him  to  stand 
before  two  princes,  would  enable  him  to 
stand  before  a  third.  The  messenger  then 
acquainting  him,  that  he  had  no  orders  to 
seize  his  person,  delivered  a  letter  and 
departed.  However,  opening  the  letter, 
and  finding  it  a  citation  from  the  council, 
ho  resolved  to  obey  it,  and  set  out  imme- 
diately. As  he  passed  through  Smilhfield, 
he  said,  cheerfully  :  "  This  place  of  burn- 
ing hath  long  groaned  for  me."  The  next 
morning  he  waited  upon  the  council,  who 
having  loaded  him  with  many  severe  re- 
proaches, sent  him  to  the  Tower,  whence, 
after  some  time,  he  was  removed  to  Ox- 
ford. 


MARTVRIIOM    OF    BISHOPS    LATIMER    AND    RIDLEY. Page  185. 


THE   LIFE,   SUFFERINGS,   AND    MARTYRDOM,   OF 


NICHOLAS    RIDLEY,    BISHOP    OF    LONDON, 


catholic  religion,  but  was  brought  over  to 
that  of  the  reformed  by  means  of  reading 
Bertram's  book  on  the  Sacrament ;  and  he 
was  confirmed  in  the  same  by  frequent 
conferences  with  Cranmer  and  Peter  Mar- 
tyr, so  that  he  became  a  zealous  promoter 
of  the  reformed  doctrines  and  discipline 
during  the  reign  of  King  Edward. 

On  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary  he  shar- 
ed the  same  fate  with  many  others  who 
professed  the  truth  of  the  gospel.  Being 
accused  of  heresy,  he  was  first  removed 
from  his  bishopric,  then  sent  prisoner  to 
the  Tower  of  London,  and  afterward  to 
Bocardo  prison,  in  Oxford  ;  whence  he 
was  committed  to  the  custody  of  Mr.  Irish, 
mayor  of  that  city,  in  whose  house  he  re- 
mained till  the  day  of  his  execution. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1555,  these 
two  eminent  prelates  were  cited  to  appear 
before  the  divinity-school  at  Oxford. 

Agreeable  to  this  citation,  they  both  ap- 
peared on  the  day  appointed. 

Dr.  Ridley  was  first  examined,  and  severe- 
ly reprimanded  by  the  bishop  of  Lincoln, 
because,  when  he  heard  the  cardinal's  grace, 
I  and  the  pope's  holiness  mentioned  in  the 
>  commission,  he  kept  on  his  cap.  The  words 
of  the  bishop  were  to  this  effect :  "  Mr. 
Ridley,  if  you  will  not  be  uncovered,  in 
respect  to  the  pope,  and  the  cardinal  his 
legate,  by  whose  authority  we  sit  in  com- 
mission, your  cap  shall  be  taken  off." 

The  bishop  of  Lincoln  then  made  a 
formal  harangue,  in  which  he  entreated  Rid- 
ley to  return  to  the  holy  mother-church, 
insisted  on  the  antiquity  and  authority  of 
the  see  of  Rome,  and  of  the  pope,  as  the 
immediate  successor  of  St.  Peter. 

Dr.  Ridley,  in  return,  strenuously  oppo- 
sed the  arguments  of  the  bishop,  and  boldly 
vindicated  the  doctrines  of  the  reformation. 
After  much  debate,  the  five  following 


ICHOLAS  RIDLEY, 
bishop  of  London,  re- 
ceived the  earliest  part 
of  his  education  at 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 
whence  he  was  remov- 
ed to  the  university  of  Cambridge,  where 
his  great  learning,  and  distinguished  abili- 
ties, so  recommended  him,"  that  he  was 
made  master  of  Pembroke-hall,  in  that  uni- 
versity. 

After  being  some  years  in  this  office  he 
left  Cambridge,  and  travelled  into  various 
parts  of  Europe  for  the  advancement  of 
knowledge.  On  his  return  to  England  he 
was  made  chaplain  to  King  Henry  VIII., 
and  bishop  of  Rochester,  from  which  he 
was  translated  to  the  see  of  London  by 
King  Edward  VI. 

In  private  life  he  was  pious,  humane, 
and  affable ;  in  public  he  was  learned, 
sound,  and  eloquent ;  diligent  in  his  duty, 
and  very  popular  as  a  preacher. 

He  had  been  educated  in  the  Roman 


188 


B 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


articles  were  proposed  to  him,  and  his  im-  I  to  Dr.  Ridley  were  read  to  Mr.  Latimer, 
mediate  and  explicit  answers  required : —    I  and  he   was   required   to  give   a  full  and 

1.  That  he  had  frequently  affirmed,  and  I  satisfactory  answer  to  each  of  them, 
openly  maintained  and  defended,  that  the  >      His  replies  not  being  satisfactory  to  the 
true  natural  body  of  Christ,  after  consecra-  >  court,   he  was  dismissed  ;  but  ordered  to 
tion  of  the  priest,  is  not  really  present  in  I  appear  in  St.  Mary's  church,  at  the  same 
the  sacrament  of  the  altar.  >  time  with  Dr.  Ridley. 

2.  That  he  had  often  publicly  affirmed,  >  On  the  day  appointed  the  commissioners 
and  defended,  that  in  the  sacrament  of  the  >  met,  when  Dr.  Ridley  being  first  brought 
altar  remaineth  still  the  substance  of  bread  '  before  them,  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  stood 
and  wine.  j  up,  and  began  to  repeat  the  proceedings  of 

3.  That  he  had  often  openly  affirmed,  ?  the  former  meeting,  assuring  him  that  he 
and  obstinately  maintained,  that  in  the  mass  '<  had  full  liberty  to  make  what  alterations  he 
is  no  propitiatory  sacrifice  for  the  quick  and  /  pleased  in  his  answers  to  the  articles  pro- 
the  dead.  \  posed  to  him,  and  to  deliver  the  same  to  the 

4.  That  the  aforesaid   assertions   have  \  court  in  writing. 

been  solemnly  condemned  by  the  scholasti-  \  After  some  debate,  Dr.  Ridley  took  out 
cal  censure  of  this  school,  as  heretical,  and  <  a  paper,  and  began  to  read  ;  but  the  bishop 
contrary  to  the  catholic  faith,  by  the  pro-  \  interrupted  him,  and  ordered  the  beadle  to 
locutor  of  the  convocation-house,  and  sundry  \  take  the  writing  from  him.  The  doctor 
learned  men  of  both  universities.  <  desired  permission  to  read  on,  declaring  the 

5.  That  all  and  singular  the  premises  <  contents  were  only  his  answers  to  the  arti- 
are  true,  and  notoriously  known,  by  all  \  cles  proposed  ;  but  the  bishop  and  others, 
near  at  hand,  and  in  distant  places.  <  having  privately  reviewed  it,  would  not  per- 

To  the  first  of  these  articles  Mr.  Ridley  \  mit  it  to  be  read  in  open  court, 
replied,  that   he  believed  Christ's  body  to  \      When   the    articles   were  again  admin- 
be  in  the  sacrament,  really,  by  grace  and  \  istered,  he  referred  the  notary  to  his  wri- 
spirit  effectually,  but  not  so  as  to  include  a  s  ting,  who  set  them  down  according  to  the 
lively  and  moveable  body  under  the  forms  \  same. 
of  bread  and  wine.  \      The  bishop  of  Gloucester  affecting  much 

To  the  second  he  answered  in  the  af-  \  concern  for  Dr.  Ridley,  persuaded  him  not 
formative.  \  to  indulge  an  obstinate  temper,  but  recant 

Part  of  the  fourth  he  acknowledged,  and  \  his  erroneous  opinions,  and  return  to  the 
part  he  denied.  \  unity  of  the  holy  catholic  church. 

To  the  fifth,  he  answered,  that  the  premi-  Mr.  Ridley  coolly  replied,  he  was  not 
ses  were  so  far  true,  as  his  replies  had  set  \  vain  of  his  own  understanding,  but  was 
forth.  Whether  all  men  spake  evil  of  them  \  fully  persuaded,  that  the  religion  he  pro- 
be knew  not,  because  he  came  not  so  much  \  fessed  was  founded  on  God's  most  holy  and 
abroad  to  hear  what  every  man  reported,     s  infallible  church  ;   and,  therefore,  he  could 

He  was  then  ordered  to  appear  the  fol-  \  not  abandon  or  deny  the  same,  consistent 
lowing  day  in  St.  Mary's  church,  in  Ox-  \  with  his  regard  for  the  honor  of  God,  and 
ford,  to  give  his  final  answer  ;  after  which    the  salvation  of  his  immortal  soul. 
he   was  committed  to  the  custody  of  the  \      He  desired  to  declare  his  reasons,  where- 
mayor.  \  fore  he  could  not,  with  a  safe  conscience, 

When  Latimer  was  brought  into  court,  admit  of  the  popish  supremacy,  but  his  re- 
the  bishop  of  Lincoln  warmly  exhorted  him  I- quest  was  denied. 

to  return  to  the  unity  of  the  church,  from  >      The  bishop  finding  him  inflexible  in  the 

which  he  had  revolted.  \  faith,  according  to  the  doctrine  of  the  ref- 

The  same  articles  which  were  proposed  \  ormation,  thus  addressed  him  :  "  Dr.  Rid- 


ley,  it  is  with  the  utmost  concern  that  I 
observe  your  stubbornness  and  obstinacy,  in 
persisting  in  damnable  errors  and  heresies  ; 
but  unless  you  recant,  I  must  proceed  to 
the  other  part  of  my  commission,  though 
very  much  against  my  will  and  desire." 

Mr.  Ridley  not  making  any  reply,  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  was  read ;  after 
which  he  was  carried  back  to  confinement. 
When  Mr.  Latimer  was  brought  before 
the  court,  the  bishop  of  Lincoln  informed 
him,  that  though  they  had  already  taken 
his  answers  to  certain  articles  alleged 
against  him,  yet  they  had  given  him  time 
to  consider  on  the  same,  and  would  permit 
him  to  make  what  alterations  he  should 
deem  fit,  hoping,  by  that  means,  to  reclaim 
him  from  his  errors,  and  bring  him  over  to 
the  faith  of  the  holy  catholic  church. 

The  articles  were  again  read  to  him, 
but  he  deviated  not,  in  a  single  point,  from 
the  answers  he  had  already  given. 

Being  again  warned  to  recant,  and  re- 
voke his  errors,  he  refused,  declaring,  that 
he  never  would  deny  God's  truth,  which 
he  was  ready  to  seal  with  his  blood.  Sen- 
tence of  condemnation  was  then  pronounced 
against  him,  and  he  was  committed  to  the 
custody  of  the  mayor. 

A  few  days  after  this  they  were  both 
solemnly  degraded  by  the  bishop  of  Glouces- 
ter, and  the  vice-chancellor  of  Oxford;  after 
which  they  were  delivered  over  to  the  secu- 
lar power. 

The  16th  of  October,  1555,  was  the  day 
appointed  for  their  execution,  and  the  place 
Townditch,  behind  Baliol  college. 

Mr.  Latimer  went  to  the  stake  in  an 
humble  plain  lay-dress,  and  Dr.  Ridley  in 
his  ecclesiastical  habit,  which  he  wore 
when  a  bishop.  They  embraced  each 
other  on  the  melancholy  occasion ;  and 
Dr.  Ridley  encouraged  his  fellow-laborer, 
and  fellow-sufferer,  in  the  cause  of  Christ, 
to  be  of  good  cheer,  assuring  him  that  God 
would  either  assuage  the  fury  of  the  flames, 
or  enable  them  to  endure  them. 

Our  martyrs  then  kneeled  down,  and, 
with  great  earnestness,  prayed  to  Almighty 


God  to  enable  them  to  sustain  the  fiery  trial 
that  awaited  them. 

When  they  arose  from  prayer,  one  of  the 
popish  priests,  in  an  occasional  sermon, 
upbraided  them  with  heresy  and  departure 
from  the  church  of  Christ.  Dr.  Ridley 
was  desirous  of  vindicating  himself  from 
the  aspersion  of  the  priest,  but  was  denied 
that  liberty,  and  commanded  to  prepare 
immediately  for  the  fire,  unless  he  would 
recant,  and  abjure  his  heretical  opinions  ; 
without  hesitation,  therefore,  he  took  off  his 
clothes,  distributed  them  among  the  popu- 
lace, and,  together  with  Latimer,  was 
chained  to  the  stake. 

Latimer  soon  expired,  crying:  "0 Father 
of  heaven  receive  my  soul."  But  Ridley, 
by  reason  of  the  fire  burning  low,  and  not 
flaming  about  his  body,  endured  the  most 
exquisite  torture,  leaping  in  the  fire,  and 
begging,  for  Christ's  sake,  that  the  flames 
might  surround  him ;  till,  at  length,  some 
of  the  spectators  having  taken  off  part  of 
the  fagots,  the  fire  had  vent,  and  the  bag 
of  gunpowder  that  was  fastened  to  his  neck 
exploded,  after  which  he  was  not  seen  to 
move,  but  fell  down  at  the  feet  of  his  fel- 
low-sufferer.    (See  engraving.) 

Thus  did  these  two  pious  divines,  and 
steadfast  believers,  testify,  with  their  blood, 
the  truth  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  upon 
which  depends  all  the  sinner's  hopes  of 
salvation  ;  to  suffer  for  which  was  the  joy, 
the  glory  of  many  eminent  Christians,  who, 
having  followed  their  dear  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter, through  much  tribulation  in  this  vale 
of  tears,  will  be  glorified  for  ever  with 
him,  in  the  kingdom  of  his  Father  and  our 
Father,  of  his  God  and  our  God. 

Mr.  Latimer,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
was  in  the  eightieth  year  of  his  age,  and 
preserved  the  principles  he  had  professed 
with  the  most  distinguished  magnanimity. 
He  had  naturally  a  happy  temper,  formed 
on  the  principles  of  true  Christianity.  Such 
was  his  cheerfulness,  that  none  of  the  ac- 
cidents of  life  could  discompose  him:  such 
was  his  fortitude,  that  not  even  the  severest 
trials  could  unman  him  ;  he  had  a  collected 


190 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


spirit,  and  on  no  occasion  wanted  a  re-  j  distressed.  He  persevered,  to  the  last,  in 
source  ;  he  could  retire  within  himself,  and  that  faith  he  had  professed,  and  cheerfully 
hold  the  world  at  defiance.  resigned  up  his  life  in  defence  of  the  truth 

Mr.  Ridley  was  no  less  indefatigable  in   of  the  gospel, 
promoting  the  reformed  religion,  than  his        A  few  days   after  Latimer  and   Ridley 
fellow-sufferer  Mr.  Latimer.     He  was  nat-   suffered,  John  Webb,  George  Roper,  and 
urallyof  a  very  easy  temper,  and  distinguish- >  Gregory  Parke,  shared  the  like  fate,  for 
ed  for  his  great  piety  and  humanity  to  the  j  professing  the  truth  of  the  gospel. 


HIS 


THE   LIFE,   SUFFERINGS,  AND    MARTYRDOM,   OF 

THOMAS  CRANMER,  THE  FIRST  PROTESTANT  ARCHBISHOP  OF  CANTERBURY. 

he  became  celebrated  for  his  great  learning 
and  abilities. 

In  1521  he  married,  by  which  he  for- 
feited the  fellowship  of  Jesus  college  ;  but 
his  wife  dying  in  child-bed  within  the  year, 
he  was  re-elected.  This  favor  he  most 
gratefully  acknowledged,  and  chose  to  de- 
cline an  offer  of  a  much  more  valuable  fel- 
lowship in  Cardinal  Wolsey's  new  semina- 
ry at  Oxford,  rather  than  relinquish  friends 
who  had  treated  him  with  the  most  dis- 
tinguished respect. 

In  1523  he  commenced  doctor  of  divini- 
ty; and  being  in  great  esteem  for  theologi- 
cal learning, he  was  chosen  divinitylecturer 
in  his  own  college,  and  appointed,  by  the 
university,  one  of  the   examiners   in   that 
science.     In  this  office  he  principally  in-  i 
culcated  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  \ 
eminent    prelate    was  <  then  greatly  neglected,  as  being  indispensa-  \ 
born  at  Aslacton,  in  Not-  <  bly  necessary  for  the  professors  of  that  di- 
tinghamshire,  on  the  2d  of  <  vine  knowledge. 

July,  1489.  His  family  I  The  plague  happening  to  breakout  at  ] 
was  ancient,  and  came  in  \  Cambridge,  Mr.  Cranmer,  with  some  of  his  \ 
with  William  the  Con-  \  pupils,  removed  to  Waltham  abbey,  where,  ^ 
queror.  He  was  early  deprived  of  his  father  j  falling  into  company  with  Gardiner  and  ) 
Thomas  Cranmer,  Esq.,  and  after  no  ex-  \  Fox,  one  the  secretary,  the  other  almoner  ) 
traordinary  education,  was  sent  by  his  moth-  \  of  King  Henry  VIII.,  that  monarch's  in-  \ 
er  to  Cambridge,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  j  tended  divorce  of  Catharine  his  queen,  the  i 
according  to  the  custom  of  those  times.  j  common  subject  of  discourse  in  those  days,  \ 
Having  completed  his  studies  at  the  uni- !  came  upon  the  carpet :  when  Cranmer  ad-  s 
versity,  he  took  the  usual  degrees,  and  vising  an  application  to  our  own,  and  to  the  s 
was  so  well  beloved  that  he  was  chosen  )  foreign  universities,  for  their  opinion  in  the  ; 


*• 


a. 


fellow  of  Jesus  college  ;  soon  after  which  i  case,   and  giving  these    gentlemen    much  j 


£ 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


191   ) 


satisfaction,  they  introduced   him    to    the  ?  Catherine  :    and   the   next   in  joining  his 
king,  who  was  so  pleased  with  him,  that    hands  with  Anne  Boleyn,  the  consequence 


he  ordered  him  to  write  his  thoughts  on  the 
subject,  made  him  his  chaplain,  and  admit- 
ted him  into  that  favor  and  esteem,  which 
he  never  afterward  forfeited. 

In  1530  he  was  sent  by  the  king,  with 
a  solemn  embassy,  to  dispute  on  the  sub- 


of  which  marriage  was  the  birth  of  the 
glorious  Elizabeth,  to  whom  he  stood  god- 
father. 

As  the  queen  was  greatly  interested  in 
the  reformation,  the  friends  to  that  good 
work  began  to  conceive  high  hopes  ;  and, 


ject  of  the  divorce  at  Paris,  Rome,  and  indeed,  it  went  on  with  desirable  success, 
other  foreign  parts.  At  Rome  he  delivered  \  But  the  fickle  disposition  of  the  king,  and 
his  book,  which  he  had  written  in  defence  j  the  fatal  end  of  unhappy  Anne,  for  a  while, 
of  the  divorce,  to  the  pope,  and  offered  /  alarmed  their  fears,  though,  by  God's  provi- 
to  justify  it  in  a  public  disputation  :  but  dence,  without  any  ill  effects.  The  pope's 
after  various  promises  and  appointments  \  supremacy  was  universally  exploded;  mon- 
none  appeared  to  oppose  him;  while  in  j  asteries,  &c,  destroyed,  upon  the  fullest  de- 
private  conferences  he  forced  them  to  con-  <  tection  of  the  most  abominable  vices  and 
fess  that  the  marriage  was  contrary  to  the  I  inordinances  :  that  valuable  bo@k  of  the 
law  of  God.  The  pope  constituted  him  \  erudition  of  a  Christian  man  was  set  forth 
penitentiary  general  of  England,  and  dis-  i  by  our  great  archbishop,  with  public  authori- 
missed  him.  In  Germany  he  gave  full  <  ty  :  and  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  at  length,  to 
satisfaction  to  many  learned  men,  who  were  <  the  infinite  joy  of  Cranmer,  and  the  worthy 
before  of  a  contrary  persuasion  :  and  pre-  <  Lord  Cromwell,  his  constant  friend  and 
vailed  on  the  famous  Osander  (whose  niece  <  associate,  were  not  only  translated,  but  in- 
he  married  while  there)  to  declare  the  king's  ^  troduced  into  every  parish.     The  transla- 


marriage  unlawful. 


tion  was  received  with  inexpressible  joy  : 


During  the  time  he  was  abroad,  the  great  |  every  one,  that  was  able,  purchased  it,  and 
Archbishop  Warham  died  :  Henry,  con-  \  the  poor  flocked  greedily  to  hear  it  read  : 
vinced  of  Cranmer's  merit,  determined  that '/  some  persons  in  years  learned  to  read  on 
he  should  succeed  him  :  and  commanded  s  purpose,  that  they  might  peruse  it :  and 
him  to  return  for  that  purpose.  He  sus-  \  even  little  children  crowded  with  eager- 
pected  the  cause,  and  delayed  :  he  was  ness  to  hear  it !  We  can  not  help  reflect- 
desirous,  by  all  means,  to  decline  this  high  ing,  on  this  occasion,  how  much  we  are 
station ;  for  he  had  a  true  and  primitive  \  bound  to  prize  this  sacred  treasure,  which 
sense  of  the  office.  But  a  spirit  so  different  \  we  enjoy  so  perfectly:  and  how  much  to 
from  that  of  the  churchmen  of  his  times  \  contend  against  every  attempt  of  those 
stimulated  the  king's  resolution  ;  and  the  \  enemies  and  that  church,  which  would  de- 
more  reluctance  Cranmer  showed,  the  \  prive  us  of  it,  and  again  reduce  us  to  legends 
greater  resolution  Henry  exerted.  He  was  \  and  schoolmen,  to  ignorance  and  idolatry  ! 
consecrated  on  March  30,  1533,  to  the  of-  Cranmer,  that  he  might  proceed  with 
fice  ;  and  though  he  received  the  usual  l  true  judgment,  made  a  collection  of  opinions 
bulls  from  the  pope,  he  protested,  at  his  \  from  the  works  of  the  ancient  fathers  and 
consecration,  against  the  oath  of  allegiance,  \  later  doctors  ;  of  which  Bishop  Burnet  saw 
&c,  to  him.  For  he  had  conversed  freely  \  too  volumes  in  folio  ;  and  it  appears,  by  a 
with  the  reformed  in  Germany,  had  read  I  letter  of  Lord  Burleigh's,  that  there  were 
Luther's  books,  and  was  zealously  attached  I  then  six  volumes  of  Cranmer's  collections 
to  the  glorious  cause  of  reformation.  <  in  his  hands.     A  work  of  incredible  labor, 

The  first  service  he  did  the  king,  in  his  <  but  vast  utility, 
archiepiscopal  character,  was,  pronouncing  <      A  short  time  after  this,  he  gave  a  shining 
the   sentence  of  his  divorce   from  Queen  '  proof  of  his  sincere  and  disinterested  con- 


192 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


stancy,  by  his  noble  opposition  10  wbat  are 

commonly  called  King  Henry's  six  bloody 

articles.       IIowevrer,     lie     weatbered     the 

J  storm  ;  and  published,  with  an  incompara- 

l   ble  preface  written  by  himself,  the  larger 

j  bible  ;  six  of   which,   even    Bonner,  then 

<  newly  consecrated  bisbop  of  London,  caused 

I  to  be  fixed,  for  the  perusal  of  the  people, 

in  his  cathedral  of  St.  Paul's. 

The   enemies  of  the  reformation,  how- 
ever, were  restless  :  and  Henry,  alas  !  was 
no  protestant  in  his  heart.     Cromwell  fell 
a  sacrifice  to  them  ;  and  they  aimed  every 
possible   shaft   at  Cranmer.     Gardiner   in 
particular    was    indefatigable  :    he    caused 
\  him  to  be  accused  in  parliament,  and  sev- 
j  eral  lords  of  the  privy  council  moved  the 
'  king  to  commit  the  archbisbop  to  the  Tow- 
/  er.     The  king  perceived  their  malice;  and 

>  one  evening,  on  pretence  of  diverting  him- 
|  self  on  the  water,  ordered  his  barge  to  be 
|  rowed  to  Lambeth  side.  The  archbishop, 
\  being  informed  of  it,  came  down  to  pay  his 

respects,  and  was  ordered,  by  the  king,  to 
come  into  the  barge  and  sit  close  by  him. 
Henry  made  him  acquainted  with  the  ac- 
cusations of  heresy,  faction,  &c,  which 
were  laid  against  him  ;  and  spoke  of  his 
opposition  to  the  six  articles  ;  the  arch- 
bishop modestly  replied,  that  he  could  not 
but  acknowledge  himself  to  be  of  the  same 
opinion,  with  respect  to  them  ;  but  was  not 
conscious  of  having  offended  against  them. 
The  king  then  putting  on  an  air  of  pleasant- 
ry, asked  him,  if  his  bed-chamber  could 
stand  the  test  of  these  articles  ?  the  arch- 
bishop confessed,  that  he  was  married  in 
Germany,  before  his  promotion  ;  but  assur- 
ed the  king,  that  on  passing  that  act,  he  had 
parted  with  his  wife,  and  sent  her  abroad 
to  her  friends.  His  majesty  was  so  charm- 
ed with  his  openness  and  integrity,  that  he 
discovered  the  whole  plot  that  was  laid 
against  him  ;  and  gave  him  a  ring  of  great 
|  value  to  produce  upon  any  future  emer- 
gency. 

>  A  few  days  after  this,  Cranmer's  enemies 
/  summoned  him  to  appear  before  the  coun- 
',  cil.  He  accordingly  attended,  when,  they 
»     .. 


suffered  him  to  wait  in  the  lobby  among 
the  footmen,  treated  him  on  his  admission 
with  haughty  contempt,  and  would  have 
sent  him  to  the  Tower.  But  he  produced 
the  ring  ;  and  gained  his  enemies  a  severe 
reprimand  from  Henry,  and  himself  the 
highest  degree  of  security  and  favor. 

On  this  occasion  he  showed  that  lenity 
and  mildness  for  which  he  was  always  so 
much  distinguished :  he  never  persecuted 
any  of  his  enemies  ;  but  on  the  contrary, 
\  freely  forgave  even  the  inveterate  Gardiner, 
\  on  his  writing  a  supplicatory  letter  to  him 
;;  for    that    purpose.      The    same    lenity  he 
;  showed  toward  Dr.  Thornton,  the  suffragan 
\  of  Dover,   and   Dr.   Barber,    who,   though 
I  entertained  in  his  family,  and  intrusted  with 
5  bis  secrets,  and  indebted  to  him  for  many 
'  favors,    had    ungratefully    conspired    with 
\  Gardiner  to  take  away  his  life. 
!       When    Cranmer    first   discovered    their 
>  treachery,    he    took    them    aside    into   his 
'/  study,  and  telling  them,  that  he  had  been 
\  basely  and    falsely   accused    by   some,  in 
'/  whom  he  had  always  reposed  the  greatest 
/  confidence,  desired  them  to  advise  him  how 
?  he   should  behave  himself  toward   them  ? 
(  They,  not  suspecting  themselves  to  be  con- 
i  cerned  in  the  question,  replied  that  "  such 
<  vile,  abandoned  villains,  ought  to  be  prose- 
cuted with  the  greatest  rigor;  nay,  deserved 
to  die  without  mercy."     At  this  the  arch- 
bishop, lifting  up  his  hands  to  heaven,  cried 
out :  "  Merciful    God  !   whom  may  a  man 
trust  ?"     And  then  taking  out  of  his  bosom 
the   letters,  by   which  he  had   discovered 
their  treachery,  asked  them,  if  they  knew 
those  papers  ?     When  they  saw  their  own 
letters  produced  against  them,  they  were  in 
the    utmost   confusion  ;    and    falling  down 
upon  their  knees,  humbly  sued  forgiveness. 
The  archbishop  told  them  that  "  he    for- 
gave them,  and  would  pray  for  them  ;   but 
that  they  must  not  expect  him  ever  to  trust 
them  for  the  future." 

As  we  are  upon  the  subject  of  the  arch- 
bishop's readiness  to  forgive  and  forget  in- 
juries, it  may  not  be  improper  here  to 
relate  a  pleasant  instance  of  it,  which  hap- 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


193 


pened  some  time  before  the  above  circum- 
stances. 

The  archbishop's  first  wife,  whom  he 
married  at  Cambridge,  was  kinswoman  to 
the  hostess  at  the  Dolphin-inn,  and  boarded 
there  ;  and  he  often  resorting  thither  on  \ 
that  account,  the  popish  party  had  raised  a  \ 
story,  that  he  was  ostler  to  that  inn,  and  I 
never  had  the  benefitof  a  learned  education.  \ 
This  idle  story  a  Yorkshire  priest  had,  with 
great  confidence,  asserted,  in  an  alehouse 
which  he  used  to  frequent  ;  railing  at  the 
archbishop,  and  saying,  that  he  had  no 
more  learning  than  a  goose.  Some  people 
of  the  parish  informed  Lord  Cromwell  of 
this,  and  the  priest  was  committed  to  the 
Fleet  prison.  When  he  had  been  there 
nine  or  ten  weeks,  he  sent  a  relation  of  his 
to  the  archbishop  to  beg  his  pardon,  and  to 
sue  for  a  discharge.  The  archbishop  in- 
stantly sent  for  him,  and,  after  a  gentle 
reproof,  asked  the  priest,  whether  he  knew 
him.  To  which  he  answering,  No,  the 
archbishop  expostulated  with  him,  why  he 
should  then  make  so  free  with  his  charac- 
ter. The  priest  excused  himself,  by  say- 
ing he  was  disguised  with  liquor  :  but  this 
Cranmer  told  him  was  a  double  fault.  He 
then  said  to  the  priest,  if  he  was  inclined 
to  try  what  a  scholar  he  was,  he  should 
have  liberty  to  oppose  him  in  whatever 
science  he  pleased.  The  priest  humbly 
asked  his  pardon,  and  confessed  himself  to 
be  very  ignorant,  and  to  understand  nothing 
but  his  mother-tongue.  "No  doubt,  then," 
said  Cranmer,  "  you  are  well  versed  in  the 
English  Bible,  and  can  answer  any  ques-  \ 
tions  out.  of  that ;  pray  tell  me,  who  was 
David's  father  ?"  The  priest  stood  still 
for  some  time  to  consider  ;  but,  at  last, 
told  the  archbishop  he  could  not  recollect 
his  name.  "Tell  me,  then,"  says  Cranmer, 
"  who  was  Solomon's  father  ?"  The  poor 
priest  replied,  that  he  had  no  skill  in 
genealogies,  and  could  not  tell.  The  arch- 
bishop then  advising  him  lo  frequent  ale- 
houses less,  and  his  study  more,  and  ad- 
monishing him   not  to   accuse   others    for 

want  of  learning,  till  he  was  master  of  some 

2  13 


himself,  discharged  him  out  of  custody,  and 
sent  him  home  to  his  cure. 

These  may  serve  as  instances  of  Cran- 
mer's  clement  temper.  Indeed,  he  was 
much  blamed  by  many  for  his  too  great 
lenity  ;  which,  it  was  thought,  encouraged 
the  popish  faction  to  make  fresh  attempts 
against  him  :  but  he  was  happy  in  giving 
a  shining  example  of  that  great  Christian 
virtue  which  he  diligently  taught. 

The  king,  who  was  a  good  discerner  of 
men,  remarking  the  implacable  hatred  of 
Cranmer's  enemies  toward  him,  changed 
his  coat-of-arms  from  three  cranes  to  three 
pelicans,  feeding  their  young  with  their 
own  blood  :  and  told  his  grace  that  "  these 
birds  should  signify  to  him,  that  he  ought 
to  be  ready,  like  the  pelican,  to  shed  his 
blood  for  his  young  ones,  brought  up  in  the 
faith  of  Christ ;  for,  said  the  king,  you  are 
like  to  be  tried,  if  you  will  stand  to  your 
tackling  at  length."  The  event  proved  the 
king  to  be  no  bad  prophet. 

In  1546,  King  Henry  experienced  the 
impartiality  of  death  ;  and  left  his  crown 
to  his  only  son  Edward,  who  was  godson 
to  Cranmer,  and  had  imbibed  all  the  spirit 
of  a  reformer.  This  excellent  young  prince, 
influenced  no  less  by  his  own  inclinations 
than  by  the  advice  of  Cranmer,  and  the 
other  friends  of  reformation,  was  diligent, 
in  every  endeavor,  to  promote  it.  Homilies 
were  composed  by  the  archbishop,  and  a 
catechism  :  Erasmus's  notes  on  the  New 
Testament  translated,  and  fixed  in  church- 
es ;  the  sacrament  administered  in  both 
kinds  ;  and  the  liturgy  used  in  the  vulgar 
tongue.  Ridley,  the  archbishop's  great 
friend,  and  one  of  the  brightest  lights  of 
the  English  reformation,  was  equally  zeal- 
ous in  the  good  cause  :  and  with  him  the 
archbishop  drew  up  the  forty-two  articles 
of  religion,  which  were  revised  by  other 
bishops  and  divines  ;  as,  through  him,  he 
had  perfectly  conquered  all  his  scruples, 
respecting  the  doctrine  of  the  corporeal 
presence,  and  published  a  much  esteemed 
treatise,  entitled  :  "  A  Defence  of  the  True 
and    Catholic   Doctrine  of  the    Sacrament 


?  194 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Lord,  Jesus 
Christ." 

But  this  happy  scene  of  prosperity  was 
not  to  continue  :  God  was  pleased  to  de- 
prive the  nation  of  King  Edward,  in  1553, 
designing,  in  his  wise  providence,  to  per- 
fect the  new-born  church  of  his  son  Jesus 
Christ  in  England,  by  the  blood  of  martyrs, 
as  at  the  beginning  he  perfected  the  church 
in  general. 

Anxious  for  the  success  of  the  reforma- 
tion, and  wrought  upon  by  the  artifices  of 
the  duke  of  Northumberland,  Edward  had 
been  persuaded  to  exclude  his  sisters,  and 
to  bequeath  the  crown  to  that  duke's  amiable 
and  every  way  deserving  daughter,  the  Lady 
Jane  Gray.  The  archbishop  did  his  utmost 
to  oppose  this  alteration  in  the  succession ; 
but  the  king  was  overruled  ;  the  will  was 
made,  and  subscribed   by  the  council  and 

<  the  judges.  The  archbishop  was  sent  for 
I  last  of  all,  and  required  to  subscribe  ;  but 
I  he  answered,  that  he  could  not  do  it  with- 
s  out  perjury ;  having  sworn  to  the  entail 
S  of  the  crown  on  the  two  princesses  Mary 

and  Elizabeth.  To  this  the  king  replied  : 
"  that  the  judges,  who  being  best  skilled  in 
the  constitution,  ought  to  be  regarded  in 
this  point,  had  assured  him,  that  notwith- 
standing that  entail,  he  might  lawfully  be- 
queath the  crown  to  Lady  Jane."  The 
archbishop  desired  to  discourse  with  them 
himself  about  it ;  and  they  all  agreeing, 
that  he  might  lawfully  subscribe  the  king's 
will,  he  was  at  last  prevailed  with  to  resign 
his  own  private  scruples  to  their  authority, 
and  set  his  hand  to  it. 

Having  done  this,  he  thought  himself 
obliged  in  conscience  to  join  the  Lady  Jane  : 

<  but    her   short-lived    power   soon   expired, 

<  when  Mary  and  persecution  mounted  the 

<  throne,  and  Cranmer  could  expect  nothing 
|  less  than  what  ensued:  attainder, imprison- 

<  ment,  deprivation,  and  death. 

s       He  was  condemned  for  treason,  and  par- 

<  doned  ;  but  to  gratify  Gardiner's  malice, 
|  and  her  own  implacable  resentment  against 

him  for  her  mother's  divorce,  Mary  gave 
s  orders  to  proceed  against  him  for  heresy. 


His  friends,  who  foresaw  the  storm,  had 
advised  him  to  consult  his  safety  by  retiring 
beyond  sea ;  but  he  chose  rather  to  con- 
tinue steady  to  the  cause,  which  he  had  so 
nobly  supported  hitherto  ;  and  preferred 
the  probability  of  sealing  his  testimony  with 
his  blood,  to  an  ignominious  and  dishonor- 
able flight. 

The  Tower  was  crowded  with  prisoners; 
insomuch  that  Cranmer,  Ridley,  Latimer, 
and  Bradford,  were  all  put  into  one  cham- 
ber ;  which  they  were  so  far  from  thinking 
an  inconvenience,  that,  on  the  contrary, 
they  blessed  God  for  the  opportunity  of 
conversing  together  ;  reading  and  compar- 
ing the  Scriptures,  confirming  themselves 
in  the  true  faith,  and  mutually  exhorting 
each  other  to  constancy  in  professing  it, 
and  patience  in  suffering  for  it.  Happy 
society !  blessed  martyrs !  rather  to  be 
envied,  than  the  purpled  tyrant,  with  the 
sword  deep-drenched  in  blood,  though  in- 
circled  with  all  the  pomp  and  pageantry  of 
power. 

In  April,  1554,  the  archbishop,  with 
Bishops  Ridley  and  Latimer,  was  removed 
from  the  Tower  to  Windsor,  and  thence  to 
Oxford,  to  dispute  with  some  select  per- 
sons of  both  universities  !  But,  alas  !  what 
farces  are  disputations,  where  the  fate  of 
men  is  fixed,  and  every  word  is  miscon- 
strued !  And  such  was  the  case  here  :  for 
on  April  the  20th,  Cranmer  was  brought  to 
St.  Mary's,  before  the  queen's  commis- 
sioners, and  refusing  to  subscribe  to  the 
popish  articles,  he  was  pronounced  a 
heretic,  and  sentence  of  condemnation  was 
passed  upon  him.  Upon  which  he  told 
them,  that  he  appealed  from  their  unjust 
sentence  to  that  of  the  Almighty  ;  and  that 
he  trusted  to  be  received  into  his  presence 
in  heaven  for  maintaining  the  truth,  as  set 
forth  in  his  most  holy  gospel. 

After  this  his  servants  were  dismissed 
from  their  attendance,  and  himself  closely 
confined  in  Bocardo,  the  prison  of  the  city 
of  Oxford.  But  this  sentence  being  void 
in  law,  as  the  pope's  authority  was  wanting, 
a  new  commission  was  sent  from  Rome  in 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


195 


1555  ;  and  in  St.  Mary's  church,  at  the 
high  altar,  the  court  sat,  and  tried  the  al- 
ready-condemned Cranmer.  He  was  here 
well  nigh  too  strong  for  his  judges  ;  and  if 
reason  and  truth  could  have  prevailed,  there 
would  have  been  no  doubt,  who  should 
have  been  acquitted,  and  who  condemned. 

The  February  following,  a  new  com- 
mission was  given  to  Bishop  Bonner  and 
Bishop  Thirlby,  for  the  degradation  of  the 
archbishop.  When  they  came  down  to 
Oxford  he  was  brought  before  them  ;  and 
after  they  had  read  their  commission  from 
the  pope  (for  not  appearing  before  whom 
in  person,  as  they  had  cited  him,  he  was 
declared  contumacious,  though  they  them- 
selves had  kept  him  a  close  prisoner)  Bon- 
ner, in  a  scurrilous  oration,  exulted  over 
him  in  the  most  unchristian  manner,  for 
which  he  was  often  rebuked  by  Bishop 
Thirlby,  who  wept,  and  declared  it  the 
most  sorrowful  scene  he  had  ever  beheld 
in  his  whole  life.  In  the  commission  it 
was  declared,  that  the  cause  had  been  im- 
partially heard  at  Rome;  the  witnesses  on 
both  sides  examined,  and  the  archbishop's 
counsel  allowed  to  make  the  best  defence 
for  him  they  could. 

At  the  reading  this,  the  archbishop  could 
not  help  crying  out,  "  Good  God  !  what 
lies  are  these  ;  that  I,  being  continually  in 
prison,  and  not  suffered  to  have  counsel  or 
advocate  at  home,  should  produce  witnes- 
ses, and  appoint  my  counsel  at  Rome  ! 
God  must  needs  punish  this  shameless  and 
open  lying !" 

V,  hen  Bonner  had  finished  his  invective, 
they  proceeded  to  degrade  him  ;  and  that 
they  might  make  him  as  ridiculous  as  they 
could,  the  episcopal  habit  which  they  put 
on  him  was  made  of  canvass  and  old  rags. 
Bonner,  in  the  meantime,  by  way  of  triumph 
and  mockery,  calling  him  Mr.  Canterbury, 
and  the  like. 

He  bore  all  this  treatment  with  his  wonted 
fortitude  and  patience  ;  told  them,  "  the  de- 
gradation gave  him  no  concern,  for  he  had 
long  despised  those  ornaments  :"  but  when 
they  came  to  take  away  his  crosier,  he  held 


it  fast,  and  delivered  his  appeal  to  Thirlby, 
saying :  "  I  appeal  to  the  next  general 
council." 

When  they  had  stripped  him  of  all  his 
habits,  they  put  on  him  a  poor  yeoman- 
beadle's  gown,  thread-bare  and  ill-shaped, 
and  a  townsman's  cap;  and  in  this  manner 
delivered  him  to  the  secular  power  to  be. 
carried  back  to  prison,  where  he  was  kept 
entirely  destitute  of  money,  and  totally  se- 
cluded from  his  friends.  Nay,  such  was 
the  iniquity  of  the  times,  that  a  gentleman 
was  taken  into  custody  by  Bonner,  and 
basely  escaped  a  trial,  for  giving  the  poor 
archbishop  money  to  buy  him  a  dinner. 

Cranmer  had  now  been  imprisoned  al- 
most three  years,  and  death  should  have 
soon  followed  his  sentence  and  degradation  : 
but  his  cruel  enemies  reserved  him  for 
greater  misery  and  insult.  Every  engine 
that  could  be  thought  of  was  employed  to 
shake  his  constancy  ;  but  he  held  fast  to 
the  profession  of  his  faith.  Nay,  even  when 
he  saw  the  barbarous  martvrdom  of  his  dear 
companions  Ridley  and  Latimer,  he  was 
so  far  from  shrinking,  that  he  not  only 
prayed  to  God  to  strengthen  them,  but  also, 
by  their  example, to  animate  him  toapatient 
expectation  and  endurance  of  the  same  fiery 
trial. 

The  papists,  after  trying  various  severe 
ways  to  bring  Cranmer  over  without  effect, 
at  length  determined  to  try  what  gentle 
methods  would  do.  They  accordingly  re- 
moved him  from  prison  to  the  lodgings  of 
the  dean  of  Christ  church,  where  they  urged 
ever}r  persuasive  and  affecting  argument  to 
make  him  deviate  from  his  faith  ;  and,  in- 
deed, too  much  melted  his  gentle  nature, 
by  the  false  sunshine  of  pretended  civility 
and  respect. 

The  unfortunate  prelate,  however,  with- 
stood every  temptation,  at  which  his  enemies 
were  so  irritated,  that  they  removed  him 
from  the  dean's  lodgings  to  the  most  loath- 
some part  of  the  prison  in  which  he  had 
been  confined,  and  then  treated  him  with 
unparalleled  severity.  This  was  more  than 
the  infirmities  of  so  old  a  man  could  sup- 


■ 


196 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


\  port  :  the  frailty  of  human  nature  prevail-  i      At  length,  being  called  upon  by  Cole  to 
j  ed  ;  and  lie  was  induced  to  sign  six  differ-  j  declare   his   faith  and  reconciliation    with 
,'  ent  recantations,  drawn  from  him  by  the  I  the  catholic  church,  he  rose  with  all  possi- 
malice  and  artifices  of  his  enemies.  s  ble  dignity  ;  and  while  the  audience  was 

This,  however,  did  not  satisfy  them  :  s  wrapped  in  the  most  profound  expectation, 
,'  they  were  determined  not  to  spare  his  life,  s  he  kneeled  down,  and  repeated  the  follow- 
\  Nothing  less  than  his  death  could  satiate  S  ing  prayer  : — 

\  the  gloomy  queen,  who  said,  that,  "  as  he  I  "  0  Father  of  heaven !  O  Son  of  God, 
;  had  been  the  promoter  of  heresy,  which  ',  Redeemer  of  the  world  !  0  Holy  Ghost  ! 
\  had   corrupted   the   whole   nation,  the  ab- j  proceeding  from  them  both;  three  persons, 

•  juration,  which  was  sufficient  in  other  cases,  |  and  one  God,  have  mercy  upon  me,  most 
should  not  serve  his  turn  ;  for  she  was  re-  >  wretched   and    miserable   sinner  !    I,   who 

)  solved  he  should  be  burned."  According-  \  have  offended  both  heaven  and  earth,  and 
i  ly,  she  sent  orders  to  Dr.  Cole  to  prepare  i  more  grievously  than  any  tongue  can  ex- 
;  a  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  his  death,  press,  whither  then  may  I  go,  or  where 
!  which  was  fixed  to  be  on  the  21st  of  March,  s  shall  I  fly  for  succor  ?     To  heaven  I  may 

The  archbishop  had  no  suspicion  that  \  be  ashamed  to  lift  up  mine  eyes,  and  in 
5  such  would  be  his  fate,  after  what  he  had  >  earth  I  find  no  refuge  :  what  shall  1  then 
i  done  ;  but  he  soon  found  his  mistake.  I  do  ?  shall  I  despair  ?    God  forbid  !    O  good 

The  papists,  determined  to  carry  their  >  God,  thou  art  merciful !  and  refusest  none 
\  resentment  to  the  most  extravagant  length,  >  who  come  to  thee  for  succor:  to  thee,  there- 

<  thought  to  inflict  a  further  punishment  on  I  fore,  do  I  run  :  to  thee  do  I  humble  myself, 
i  him,  by  obliging  him  to  read  his  recantation  '/  saying,  O  Lord  God,  my  sins  be  great,  but 
I  publicly  in  St.  Mary's  church  ;   and  on  this  '>  yet  have  mercy  upon  me,  for  thy  great  iner- 

•  they  proposed  to  triumph  in  his  death:  but  \  cy!  0  God,  the  Son,  thou  wast  not  made 
£  their  base  intentions  werehappily  frustrated.  *>  man,  this  great  mystery  was  not  wrought, 
\  On  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed  for  <  for  few  or  small  offences  !  nor  thou  didst 
i  his  execution,  he  was  conducted  between  $  give  thy  Son  unto  death,  0  God  the 
I  two  friars  to  St.  Mary's  church.     As  soon  i  Father,  for  our  little  and  small  sins  only, 

<  as  he  entered,  Dr.  Cole  mounted  the  pulpit,  j  but  for  all  the  greatest  sins  of  the  world, 
I  and  the  archbishop  was  placed  opposite  to  \  that  the  sinner  may  return  unto  thee  with  a 
$  it  on  a  low  scaffold,  a  spectacle  of  contempt  \  penitent  heart,  as  I  do  here  at  this  present  ; 
|  and  scorn  to  the  people  !  <  wherefore  have  mercy  upon  me,  O   Lord  ! 

Cole  magnified  his  conversion  as  the  <  whose  property  is  always  to  have  mercy : 
immediate  work  of  God's  inspiration  ;  ex-  s  for  although  my  sins  be  great,  yet  thy  mercy 
horted  him  to  bear  up  with  resolution  s  is  greater !  I  crave  nothing,  0  Lord  !  for 
against  the  terrors  of  death;  and  by  the  s  my  own  merits,  but  for  thy  name's  sake,  that 
example  of  the  thief  on  the  cross,  encour-  s  it  may  be  glorified  thereby,  and  for  thy  dear 

!aged  him  not  to  despair,  since  he  was  re-  >  Son,  Jesus  Christ's  sake.    And  now,  there- 
turned,  though  late,  into  the  bosom  of  the  I  fore,  Our  Father,"  etc. 
,  church.      lie  also  assured  him,  that  dirges  I      He  then  rose  up,  exhorted  thf  people  to 
/  and  masses  should  be  said  for  his  soul  in  s  a  contempt  of  this  world,  to  obsdience  to 
/  all  the  churches  of  Oxford.  their    sovereign,   and   to    mutual   love    and 

As  soon  as  the  archbishop  perceived,  charity.  He  told  them,  that  being  now  on 
\  from  Cole's  sermon,  what  was  the  bloody  |  the  brink  of  eternity,  he  would  declare  unto 
I  decree,  struck  with  horror  at  the  base  in-  them  his  faith,  without  reserve  or  dissimula- 
\  humanity  of  such  proceedings,  he  gave,  by  tion:  he  then  repeated  the  apostle's  creed,  and 
\  all  his  gestures,  a  full  proof  of  the  deep  <  professed  his  belief  thereof,  and  of  all  things 
\  anguish  of  his  soul.  i  contained  in  the  Old  and  New  Testament 


MARTYRDOM    OF    ARCHBISHOP    CRANMER. Page    1 1> 


S~ 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


8 
199    \ 


By  speaking  thus  in  general  terms,  the 
attention  of  the  audience  was  kept  up  ;  but 
amazement  continued  that  attention,  when 
they  heard  him,  instead  of  reading  his  re- 
cantation, declare  his  great  and  unfeigned 
repentance,  for  having  been  induced  to 
subscribe  the  popish  errors  ;  he  lamented, 
with  many  tears,  his  grievous  fall,  and  de- 
clared that  the  hand  which  had  so  offended, 
should  be  burned  before  the  rest  of  his  body. 

He  then  renounced  the  pope  in  most  ex- 
press terms,  and  professed  his  belief  con- 
cerning the  eucharist  to  be  the  same,  with 
what  he  had  asserted  in  his  book  against 
Gardiner. 

This  was  a  great  disappointment  to  the 
papists  :  they  made  loud  clamors,  and 
charged  him  with  hypocrisy  and  falsehood  : 
to  which  he  meekly  replied,  that  "  he  was 
a  plain  man,  and  never  had  acted  the  hypo- 
crite, but  when  he  was  seduced  by  them  to 
a  recantation." 

He  would  have  gone  on  further,  but  Cole 
cried,  "  Stop  the  heretic's  mouth,  and  take 
him  away." 

Upon  this  the  monks  and  friars  rudely 
pulled  him  from  the  scaffold,  and  hurried 
him  away  to  the  stake  (where  Ridley  and 
Latimer  had  before  been  offered  up),  which 
was  at  the  north  side  of  the  city,  in  the 
ditch  opposite  Baliol  college. 

But  if  his  enemies  were  disappointed  by 
his  behavior  in  the  church,  they  were  doubly 
so  by  that  at  the  stake.     He  approached  it 


with  a  cheerful  countenance  ;  prayed  and 
undressed  himself;  his  shirt  was  made  long 
down  to  his  feet,  which  were  bare,  as  was 
his  head,  where  a  hair  could  not  be  seen. 
His  beard  was  so  long  and  thick  that  it 
covered  his  face  with  wonderful  gravity  ; 
and  his  reverend  countenance  moved  the 
hearts  both  of  friends  and  enemies. 

The  friars  tormented  him  with  their  ad- 
monitions ;  vvhile  Cranmer  gave  his  hand 
to  several  old  men,  who  stood  'by,  bidding 
them  farewell. 

When  he  was  chained  to  the  stake,  and 

the  fire  kindled,  he  seemed  superior  to  all 

sensation  but  of  piety.     He  stretched  out 

the  offending  hand  to  the  flame,  which  was 

seen  burning  for  some  time  before  the  fire 

came  to  any  other  part  of  his  body  ;  nor 

did  he  draw  it  back,  but  once  to  wipe  his 

face,  till  it  was  entirely  consumed  :  saying 

often,  "This  unworthy  hand,  this  hand  hath 

i  offended ;"    and    raising    up    his    eyes   to 

»  heaven,  he  expired  with  the  dying  prayer 

\  of  St.  Stephen  in  his  mouth,  "  Lord  Jesus, 

I  receive  my  spirit !"     (See  engraving.) 

He  burned,  to   all   appearance,  without 

pain  or  motion  ;  and  seemed  to  repel  -the 

torture  by  mere  strength  of  mind,  showing 

a  repentance  and  a  fortitude,  which  ought  to 

cancel  all  reproach  of  timidity  in  his  life. 

Thus  died  Archbishop  Cranmer,  in  the 
sixty-seventh    year   of  his    age,    and    the 
twenty-third   of  his   primacy  ;   leaving   an 
\  only  son,  of  his  own  name,  behind  him. 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  ENGLAND  DURING  THE  REIGN  OF  QUEEN  MARY. 

The  Martyrdoms  of  Agnes  Potten,  an d  Uion  of  heresy,  they  were  brought  before 
Joan  Trunchfield,  who  were  both  burnt  the  bishop  of  Norwich;  who  examined 
together  at  Ipswich  in  Suffolk.  them  concerning  their  religion  in  general, 

and  their  faith  in  the  corporeal  presence  of 
^HESE    two   advocates   and    Christ,  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar  in  par- 
sufferers  for  the  pure  gospel )  ticular. 

of  Christ,  lived  in  the  town  \  With  respect  to  the  latter  article,  they 
of  Ipswich,  in  the  county  |  both  delivered  it  as  their  opinion,  that  in 
of  Suffolk.  Being  both  ap-  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  there 
prehended  on  an    informa-  \  was   represented    the    memorial    only    of 


T-HE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


Christ's  death  and  passion,  saying,  that, 
according  to  the  Scriptures,  he  was  ascend- 
ed up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right 
hand  of  God  the  Father  ;  and  therefore  his 
body  could  not  be  really  and  substantially 
in  the  sacrament. 

A  few  days  after  this  they  were  again 
examined  by  the  bishop,  when  both  of  them 
still  continuing  steadfast  in  the  profession 
of  their  faith,  sentence  was  pronounced 
against  them  as  heretics,  and  they  were 
delivered  over  to  the  secular  power. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  their  execution, 
which  was  in  the  month  of  March,  1556, 
they  were  both  led  to  the  stake,  and  burnt 
in  the  town  of  Ipswich.  Their  constancy 
was  admired  by  the  multitude  who  saw 
them  suffer  ;  for  as  they  undressed,  and 
prepared  themselves  for  the  fire,  they  earn- 
estly exhorted  the  people  to  believe  only 
in  the  unerring  word  of  the  only  living  and 
true  God,  and  not  regard  the  devices  and 
inventions  of  men. 

They  both  openly  declared  that  they 
despised  the  errors  and  superstitions  of  the 
church  of  Rome,  and  most  patiently  sub- 
mitted to  the  acute  torments  of  devouring 
flames,  calling  upon  the  God  of  their  salva- 
tion, and  triumphing  in  being  deemed  wor- 
thy to  suffer  for  the  glorious  cause  of  Jesus 
Christ,  their  lord  and  master. 


The  Persecutions  and  Martyrdoms  of  Rich- 
ard Spurg,  John  Cavill,  Robert 
Drake,  and  William  Tims. 

These  four  pious  Christians  resided  in 
the  county  of  Essex,  and  diocese  of  Lon- 
don.    Being  accused  of  heresy,  they  were 
all  apprehended,  and   sent  by  Lord   Rich, 
and  other  commissioners,  at  different  times,  > 
to  Bishop  Gardiner,  lord  chancellor  of  Eng-  $ 
land  ;  who,  after  a  short  examination,  sent  > 
the  first  two  to  the  Marshalsea  prison  in  $ 
the  Borough,  and  the  last  two  to  the  King's  I 
Bench,  where  they  continued   during  the  \ 
space  of  a  whole  year,  till  the  death  of  j 
Bishop  Gardiner. 

When  Dr.  Heath,  archbishop  of  York,  \ 


succeeded  to  the  chancellorship,  two  of 
these  persecuted  brethren,  namely,  Richard 
Spurg  and  John  Cavill,  weary  of  their 
tedious  confinement,  presented  a  petition 
to  the  lord  chancellor,  subscribing  their 
names,  and  requesting  his  interest  for  their 
enlargement. 

A  short  time  after  the  delivery  of  this 
petition,  Sir  Richard  Read,  one  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  court  of  chancery,  was  sent  by 
the  chancellor  to  the  Marshalsea,  to  ex- 
amine them. 

Richard  Spurg,  the  first  who  passed 
examination,  being  asked  the  cause  of  his 
imprisonment,  replied,  that  he,  with  several 
others,  being  complained  of  by  the  minister 
of  Bocking  for  not  coming  to  their  parish 
church,  to  Lord  Rich,  was  thereupon  sent 
up  to  London  by  his  lordship,  to  be  ex- 
amined by  the  late  chancellor. 

He  acknowledged  that  he  had  not  been 
at  church  since  the  English  service  was 
changed  into  Latin  (except  on  Christmas 
day  twelvemonth)  because  he  disliked  the 
same,  and  the  mass  also,  as  not  agreeable 
to  God's  holy  word. 

He  then  desired  that  he  might  be  no 
further  examined  concerning  this  matter, 
until  it  pleased  the  present  chancellor  to 
inquire  his  faith  concerning  the  same,  which 
he  was  ready  to  deliver. 

John  Cavill  likewise  agreed  in  the 
chief  particulars  with  his  brethren  ;  but 
further  said,  the  cause  of  his  absenting 
himself  from  church  was,  that  the  minister 
there  had  advanced  two  doctrines  contrary 
to  each  other  ;  for  first,  in  a  sermon  he 
delivered  when  the  queen  came  to  the 
crown,  he  exhorted  the  people  to  believe 
the  gospel,  declaring  it  to  be  the  truth,  and 
that  if  they  believed  it  not,  they  would  be 
damned  ;  and  that,  secondly,  in  a  future 
discourse,  he  declared  that  the  New  Testa- 
ment  was  false  in  forty  places,  which  con- 
trariety gave  him  much  disgust,  and  was, 
among  other  things,  the  cause  of  his  ab- 
senting himself  from  church. 

Robert  Drake  was  minister  of  Thun-  j 
dersly,  in   Essex,  to  which  living  he  had 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


201 


■: 


been  presented  by  the  Lord  Rich  in  the  5  The  bishop  began  his  examination  with 
reign  of  Edward  VI.,  when  he  was  ordain-  >  Tims,  whom  he  called  the  ringleader  of  the 
ed  priest  by  Dr.  Ridley,  then  bishop  of  mothers:  he  told  him,  that  he  had  taught 
London,  according  to  the  reformed  English  /  them  heresies,  confirmed  them  in  their 
service  for  ordination.  i  erroneous  opinions,  and  endeavored,  as  far 

On  the  accession  of  Queen  Mary  to  the  \  as  in  him  lay,  to  render  them  as  abominable 
throne  of  England,  he  was  sent  for  by  \  as  himself;  with  many  other  accusations 
Gardiner,  bishop  of  Winchester,  who  de-  <  equally  false  and  opprobrious, 
manded  of  hiin  whether  he  would  conform,  He  was  then  asked  by  the  bishop  what 
like  a  good  subject,  to  the  laws  of  the  realm  <  he  had  to  say  in  his  own  vindication,  in 
then  in  force.  He  answered,  that  he  would  j  order  to  prevent  him  from  proceeding  against 
abide  by  those  laws  that  were  agreeable  to  I  him  as  his  ordinary.  To  which  he  replied 
the  laws  of  God  ;  upon  which  he  was  im-  <  as  follows: — 

mediately  committed  to  prison  j      "  My   lord,  I    am    astonished    that  you 

William  Tims  was  a  deacon  and  curate  should  begin  your  charge  with  a  falsehood  ; 
of  Hockley,  in  Essex,  in  the  reign  of  Ed-  you  aver  that  I  am  the  ringleader  of  the 
ward  VI.,  but  being  deprived  of  his  living  <  company  now  brought  before  you,  and  have 
soon  after  the  death  of  that  monarch,  he  taught  them  principles  contrary  to  the  Rom- 
absconded,  and  privately  preached  in  a  ish  church,  since  we  have  been  in  confine- 
neighboring  wood,  whither  many  of  his  j  merit ;  but  the  injustice  of  this  declaration 
flock  attended  to  hear  the  word  of  God.  <  will  soon  appear,  if  you  will  inquire  of 
In  consequence  of  these  proceedings  he  \  these  my  brethren,  whether,  when  at  liber- 
was  apprehended  by  one  of  the  constables,  <  ty,  and  out  of  prison,  they  dissented  not 
and  sent  up  to  the  bishop  of  London,  by  s  from  popish  principles  as  much  as  they  do 
whom  he  was  referred  to  Gardiner,  bishop  s  at  present ;  such  inquiry,  I  presume,  will 
of  Winchester,  and  lord-chancellor,  who  s  render  it  evident,  that  they  learned  not  their 
committed    him    to     the     King's     Bench  s  religion  in  prison. 

prison.  s      "  For  my  own  part,  I   declare  I  never 

A  short  time  after  his  confinement,  he  |>  knew  them,  till  such  time  as  I  became  their 
(with  the  others  beforementioned),  was  or- 1  fellow-prisoner,  how  then  could  I  be  their 
dered  to  appear  before  the  bishop  of  Lon- 1  ringleader  and  teacher  ?  With  respect  to 
don,  who  questioned  them  in  the  usual  man-  >  the  charge  alleged  against  me,  a  charge 
ner,  concerning  their  faith  in  the  sacrament )  which  you  endeavor  to  aggravate  to  the 
of  the  altar.  I  highest  degree,  whatever  opinion  you  main- 

Mr.  Tims  answered,  that  the  body  of  \  tain  concerning  me,  I  am  well  assured  I 
Christ  was  not  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  hold  no  other  religion  than  what  Christ 
really  and  corporeally,  after  the  words  of  \  Jesus  preached,  the  apostles  witnessed, 
consecration  spoken  by  the  priest;  and  <  the  primitive  church  received,  and  of  late 
that  he  had  been  a  long  time  of  that  opinion,  \  the  apostolical  and  evangelical  preachers 
ever  since  it  had  pleased  God,  of  his  in-  of  this  realm  have  faithfully  taught,  and 
finite  mercy,  to  call  him  to  the  true  knowl-  \  for  which  you  have  cruelly  caused  them  to 
edge  of  the  gospel  of  his  grace.  \  be  burnt,  and  now  seek  to  treat  us  with  the 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1556,  these  four  j  like  inhuman  severity.  I  acknowledge  you 
persons  were  all  brought  into  the  consistory  j  to  be  my  ordinary." 

court,  in  St.  Paul's  church, before  the  bishop  j  The  bishop,  finding  it  necessary  to  come 
of  London,  in  order  to  be  examined,  for  the  I  to  a  point  with  him,  demanded,  if  he  would 
last  time  ;  who  assured  them,  that  if  they  j  submit  himself  to  the  holy  mother  church, 
did  not  submit  to  the  church  of  Rome,  they  s  promising,  that  if  he  did,  he  should  be  kind- 
should  be  condemned  for  heresy.  >  ly  received  ;  and  threatening,  at  the  same 


H 


202 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


time,  that  if  he  did  not,  judgment  should  be 
pronounced  against  him  as  an  heretic. 

In  answer  to  this,  Tims  told  his  lordship 
he  was  well  persuaded  that  he  was  within 
the  pale  of  the  catholic  church,  whatever 
he  might  think  ;  and  reminded  him,  that 
he  hud  most  solemnly  abjured  that  very 
church  to  which  he  since  professed  such 
strenuous  allegiance  ;  and  that,  contrary 
to  his  oath,  he  again  admitted,  in  this  realm, 
the  authority  of  the  pope,  and  was,  there- 
fore, perjured  and  forsworn  in  the  highest 
degree.  He  also  recalled  to  his  memory, 
that  he  had  spoken  with  great  force  and 
perspicuity  against  the  usurped  power  of 
the  pope,  though  he  afterward  sentenced 
persons  to  be  burnt,  because  they  would 
not  acknowledge  the  pope  to  be  the  supreme 
head  of  the  church. 

To  this  Bonner  sternly  demanded,  what 
he  had  written  against  the  church  of  Rome? 

Mr.  Tims  pertinently  answered  :  "  My 
lord,  the  late  bishop  of  Winchester  wrote  a 
very  learned  treatise,  entitled,  De  vera 
Ohedicntia,  which  contains  many  solid  argu- 
ments against  the  papal  supremacy:  to  this 
book  you  wrote  a  preface,  strongly  inveigh- 
ing against  the  bishop  of  Rome,  reproving 
his  tyranny  and  usurpation,  and  showing 
that  his  power  was  ill-founded,  and  contrary 
both  to  the  will  of  God,  and  the  real  interest 
of  mankind." 

The  bishop,  struck  with  the  poignancy 
of  this  reproof,  evasively  told  him,  that  the 
bishop  of  Winchester  wrote  a  book  against 
the  supremacy  of  the  pope's  holiness,  and 
he  wrote  a  preface  to  the  same  book,  tend- 
ing to  the  same  purpose  :  but  that  the  cause 
of  the  same  arose  not  from  their  disregard  to 
his  holiness,  but  because  it  was  then  deem- 
ed treason  by  the  laws  of  the  realm  to  main- 
tain the  pope's  authority  in  England. 

He  also  observed,  that  at  such  time  it 
was  dangerous  to  profess  to  favor  the  church 
of  Rome,  and  therefore  fear  compelled  them 
to  comply  with  the  prevailing  opinions  of 
the  times  :  for  if  any  person  had  conscien- 
tiously acknowledged  the  pope's  authority 
in  those  days,  he  would  have  been  put  to 


tleath  :  but  that  since  the  queen's  happy  I 
accession  to  the  throne,  they  might  boldly  \ 
speak  the  dictates  of  their  consciences  ;  \ 
and  further  reminded  him,  that  as  my  lord  > 
of  Winchester  was  not  ashamed  to  recant  \ 
his  errors  at  St.  Paul's  cross,  and  that  he  ] 
himself  had  done  the  same,  every  inferior  I 
clergyman  should  follow  the  example  of  \ 
their  superiors.  \ 

Mr.  Tims,  still  persisting  in  the  vindica-  > 
tion  of  his  own  conduct,  and  reprehension  j 
of  that  of  the  bishop,  again  replied,  "  My 
lord,  that  which  you  have  written  against  \ 
the  supremacy  of  the  pope  may  be  well  \ 
proved  from  Scripture  to  be  true;  that  which  \ 
you  now  do  is  contrary  to  the  word  of  God,  I 
as  I  can  sufficiently  prove." 

Bonner,  after  much  further  conversation,  5 
proceeded  to  form  of  law,  causing  his  arti-  ^ 
cles,  with  the  respective  answers  to  each,  I 
to  be  publicly  read  in  court. 

Mr.  Tims  acknowledged  only  two  sacra-  > 
merits,  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper;  com-  > 
mended  the  bishop  of  Winchester's  book  De  \ 
vera  Obedientia,  and  the  bishop  of  London's  > 
preface  to  the  same.  He  declared  that  the  > 
mass  was  blasphemy  of  Christ's  passion  and  \ 
death  ;  that  Christ  is  not  corporeally  but  < 
spiritually  present  in  the  sacrament,  and  I 
that  as  they  used  it,  it  was  an  abominable  j 
idol. 

Bonner  exhorted  him  to  revoke  his  errors  - 
and  heresies,  conform  to  the  church  of  > 
Rome,  and  not  abide  so  strenuously  by  the  j 
literal  sense  of  the  Scriptures,  but  use  the  i 
interpretation  of  the  fathers. 

Our  martyr  frankly  declared  he  would 
not  conform  thereunto,  notwithstanding  the 
execrations  denounced  against  him  by  the 
church  of  Rome,  and  demanded  of  the 
bishop  what  he  had  to  support  the  doctrine 
of  the  real  presence  of  Christ  in  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  altar,  but  the  bare  letter  of 
scripture. 

On  the  bishop's  replying,  the  authority 
of  the  holy  catholic  church,  Tims  informed 
him  that  he  had  the  popish  church,  for 
which  he  was  perjured  and  forsworn,  de- 
claring that  the  see  of  Rome  was  the  see 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


203    ) 


of  antichrist,  and  therefore  he  would  never  ;  before  Maurice,  bishop  of  Rochester,  their  \ 
consent,  to  yield  obedience  to  the  same.        J  diocesan. 

The  bishop,  finding  Mr.  Tims  so  inflexi-        Joan   Beach  was  first  taken  before  the  < 
ble  in  his  adherence  to  the  faith  he   pro-    bishop  for  examination,  when  the  following 
fessed,  that  every  attempt  to  draw  him  from    articles  were  exhibited  against  her  : — 

it  was  vain  and  fruitless,  read  his  definitive  j       1.  That  living  in  the  parish  of  Tunbridge  ; 
sentence,  and  he  was  delivered  over  to  the  \  she  belonged  to  the  diocese  of  Rochester, 
secular  power.                                                   <      This  she  granted. 

Bonner  then   used  the   same   measures  >      2.  That   all  people  who  preach,  teach, 

with   Drake   as  he  had  done  with  Tims  ;  )  believe,  or  say   otherwise,  or  contrary  to  j 

but  Drake  frankly  declared,  that  he  denied  >  their  mother,  the  holy  catholic  church,  are  < 
the  church  of  Rome,  with  all  the  works  ?  excommunicated  persons  and  heretics, 

thereof,  even  as  he  denied  the  devil,  and  >      This  she  acknowledged  to  be  true,  but  j 

all  his  works.  <  added    withal,   that    nevertheless,   she   be-  \ 

The  bishop,  perceiving  all  his  exhorta-  5  lieved  not  the  holy  catholic  church,  to  be  ' 

tions  fruitless,  pronounced  sentence  of  con- 1  her  mother,  but  believed  only  the  father  of  \ 
demnation,and  he  was  immediately  deliver-  <  heaven  to  be  her  father, 

ed  into  the  custody  of  the  sheriffs.  <      3.  That  she  had  affirmed,  and  did  affirm,  ;,' 

After    this,    Richard    Spurg,    and    John  i  maintain,  and   believe,  contrary  to  the  said  ] 

Cavill,  were  separately  asked,  if  they  would  <  mother-church  of  Christ,  that  in  the  blessed  \ 
forsake   their  heresies,  and   return  to  the  <  sacrament  of  the  altar,  under  form  of  bread 

catholic  church.      They  both  refused  con-  <  and  wine,  there  is  not  the  very  body  and  \ 

senting  to  the  church  of  Rome  ;  but  said,  <  blood   of  our  Savior   Christ  in  substance,  \ 

they   were   willing  to   adhere  to  the  true  \  but  only  a  token  and  memorial  thereof,  and  S 

catholic  church,  and  continue  in  the  same.  \  that  the  very  body  and  blood  of  Christ  is  > 

Bonner  then  read  their  several  definitive  \  in  heaven,  and  not  in  the  sacrament, 

sentences,  after  which  he  committed  them  s      4.  That  Christ,  being  in  heaven,  could  J 

to  the  custody  of  the  sheriffs  of  London,  by  I  not  be  in  the  sacrament.  ? 

whom  they  were  conducted  to  Newgate.      I      To  this  she  answered,  that  she  had,  and  \ 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1556,  the  day  ap- 1  did  verily  believe,  hold,  and  affirm,  that,  in  \ 

pointed  for  their  execution,  they  were  all  >  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  under  the  forms  j 

led  to  Smithfield,  where  they  were  chained  )  of  bread  and  wine,  there  was  not  the  very  < 
to  the  same  stake,  and  burnt  in  one  fire, )  body  and  blood  of  our  Savior  in  substance, 
patiently  submitting  themselves  to  the  flames,-?  but  only  a  token  and  remembrance  of  his 

and  resigning  their  souls  into  the  hands  of?  death  to  the  faithful  receiver,  and  that  his  \ 

that  glorious  Redeemer,  for  whose  sake  they  )  body  and  substance  is  only  in  heaven,  and  \ 


delivered  their  bodies  to  be  burned. 


The  Examinations  and  Martyrdoms  of  Joan 
Beach,  Widow, of  Tunbridge,  and  John 
Harpole,  of  the  City  of  Rochester. 


not  in  the  sacrament. 

5.  That  she  had  been,  and  then  was, 
among  the  parishioners  of  Tunbridge,  noted 
and  strongly  suspected  of  being  a  sacra- 
mentary  and  a  heretic. 

To  this  she  answered,  that  she  did  not 
know  how  she  had   been,  or  was  reputed 


\  Information  being  laid  against  these  <  among  the  parishioners  of  Tunbridge,  nor 
\  two  persons  for  heresy,  they  were  appre-  <  was  their  opinion  of  any  avail  to  her  im- 
l  bended,  and  by  the  magistrates  of  the  re-  \  mortal  state. 

I  spective  places  where  they  lived,  commit-  \  The  bishop  finding  her  inflexible  in  the 
\  ted  to  prison.  After  being  some  time  in  <  faith  she  professed,  strongly  urged  her  to 
i  confinement,  they  were  separately  examined  \  preserve  her  life  by  renouncing  her  errors; 

Jjf ^^^ V  ^   £ 


204 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYIIOLOGY. 


which  she  peremptorily  refusing,  he  pro- 
nounced sentence  on  her,  and  she  was 
delivered  over  to  the  secular  power. 

John    Harpole,  being   next    examined 
before  the  same  bishop,  articles  of  a  similar 
nature  were  exhibited  against  him  as  his  j 
fellow-sufferer,  Joan  Beach. 

His  answers  to  all  of  them  were  much  < 
to  the  same  import  with  hers  ;  upon  which  j 
the  bishop  pronounced  sentence  of  death 
oo  him  in  the  usual  form. 

These  two  faithful  followers  of  Christ 
were  burnt  together  in  one  fire,  in  the  city 
of  Rochester,  about  the  latter  end  of  April, 
1556.  They  embraced  each  other  at  the 
stake,  and  cheerfully  resigned  their  souls 
into  the  hands  of  their  Redeemer  ;  after 
repeatedly  singing  hallelujahs  to  the  praise 
and  glory  of  his  name. 


The  Persecutions  and  Sufferings  >f  Chris- 
topher Lister,  John  Mace,  John 
Spencer,  Simon  Joyn,  Richard  Nich- 
ols, and  John  Hammond  ;  who  were 
all  burnt  together  at  Colchester  in 
Essex,  for  professing  the  truth  of  the 
Gospel. 

These  six  persons  being  all  apprehend- 
ed on  a  charge  of  heresy,  were  brought 
before  Bishop  Bonner  at  his  palace  at  Ful- 
ham  ;  where  articles  were  exhibited  against 
them  of  the  same  nature,  and  in  the  usual 
form,  as  those  against  others  on  the  like 
occasion. 

1.  To  the  first  article,  namely,  that  there 
was  one  holy  catholic  church  on  earth,  in 
which  the  religion  and  faith  of  Christ  is 
truly  professed,  they  all  consented  and 
agreed  ;  but  John  Spencer  added,  that  the 
church  of  Rome  was  no  part  of  Christ's 
catholic  church. 

2.  To  the  second,  concerning  the  seven 
6acraments,  they  answered,  that  in  the  true 
catholic  church  of  Christ,  there  are  but 
two  sacraments,  Baptism,  and  the  Lord's 
Supper. 

3.  To  the  third,  they  unanimously  agreed 
and  confessed,  that  they  were  baptized  in 


the  faith  and  belief  of  the  catholic  church, 
and  that  their  godfathers  and  godmothers 
had  promised  and  professed  for  them,  as 
contained  in  the  article  administered. 

4.  To  the  fourth  article,  concerning  their 
continuance  in  that  faith  and  profession  into 
which  they  were  baptized,  they  agreed  that 
they  did  so  continue  ;  Nichols  observed 
that  he  had  more  plainly  learned  the  truth 
of  his  profession,  by  the  doctrine  set  forth 
in  the  days  of  King  Edward  the  sixth,  that 
thereupon  he  had  built  his  faith,  and  would 
continue  in  the  same  by  the  grace  of  God 
to  his  life's  end. 

5.  Concerning  swerving  from  the  cath- 
olic faith,  they  declared  that  they  had  not 
swerved,  nor  departed  in  the  least  from  the 
faith  of  Christ. 

They  unanimously  confessed  that  they 
had  disapproved  of  and  spoken  against  the 
sacrifice  of  the  mass,  and  the  sacrament  of 
the  altar,  affirming,  that  they  would  not 
come  to  hear,  nor  be  partakers  thereof; 
that  they  had  believed  and  then  did  believe, 
that  they  were  set  forth  and  used  contrary 
to  God's  word  and  glory. 

They  granted  also  that  they  had  spoken 
against  the  usurped  authority  of  the  bishop 
of  Rome,  who  was  an  oppressor  of  the  holy 
church  of  Christ,  and  ought  not  to  have  any 
power  in  England. 

6.  Concerning  their  reconciliation  to  the 
unity  of  the  church,  they  said,  that  they 
never  refused,  nor  did  then  refuse  to  be 
reconciled  to  the  unity  of  Christ's  catholic 
church  ;  but  declared  they  had,  and  then 
did,  and  would  for  ever  hereafter,  refuse 
to  come  to  the  church  of  Rome,  or  to  ac- 
knowledge the  authority  of  the  papal  see  ; 
but  did  utterly  abhor  the  same  for  rejecting 
the  book  of  God,  the  Bible,  and  setting  up 
the  mass,  with  other  ridiculous  and  anti- 
christian  ceremonies. 

7.  That  disapproving  the  mass  and  sacra- 
ment of  the  altar,  they  had  refused  to  come 
to  the  parish  church,  &c. 

This  they  all  granted,  and  Simon  Joyn 
added  moreover,  that  the  cause  wherefore 
he  refused  to  be  partaker  of  their  trumpery, 


d 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


205 


was,  because  the  commandments  of  God 
were  there  broken,  and  Christ's  ordinances 
changed,  and  the  bishop  of  Rome's  ordi- 
nances put  up  in  their  stead. 

Christopher  Lister  affirmed,  that  in  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar,  there  is  the  substance 
of  bread  and  wine,  as  well  after  the  words 
of  consecration  as  before,  and  that  there  is 
not  in  the  same  the  very  body  and  blood 
of  Christ,  really,  substantially,  and  spiritual- 
ly, by  faith  in  the  faithful  receiver,  and  that 
the  mass  is  not  a  propitiatory  sacrifice  for 
the  quick  and  dead,  but  mere  idolatry  and 
abomination. 

They  then  said,  that  they  were  sent  to 
Colchester  prison,  by  tbe  king  and  queen's 
commissioners,  because  they  would  not 
come  to  their  parish  churches  :  that  what 
was  contained  in  the  premises  was  true  ; 
and  that  they  belonged  to  the  diocese  of 
London. 

On  the  close  of  this  examination  the 
bishop  dismissed  them,  but  ordered  them  to 
attend  again  in  the  afternoon.  This  order 
they  obeyed,  when  the  articles  and  answers 
of  the  first  examination  were  read  to  them  ; 
and  they  resolutely  persisted  in  the  profes- 
sion they  had  made. 

After  various  endeavors  to  bring  them  to  i 
recant,  without  the  least  effect,  sentence  of  < 
death  was  pronounced  against  them,  and  < 
they  were  all  delivered  over  to  the  secular  < 
power. 

The  writ  for  their  execution  being  made 
out,  they  were  removed  to  Colchester, 
where,  on  the  28th  of  April,  1556,  they 
were  fastened  to  two  stakes,  and  burnt  in 
one  fire.  They  all  cheerfully  met  their 
fate,  giving  glory  to  God  in  the  midst  of  the 
flames,  and  encouraging  others,  for  the  truth 
of  the  gospel,  to  follow  their  example. 


The  Martyrdoms  of  Hugh  Laverock,  an 
old  decrepit  Man,  and  John  Apprice,  a 
blind  Man. 
The   former  of  these   martyrs    was  by 

trade  a  painter,  and  lived  in  the  parish  of; 

Barking  in  Essex.     At  the  time  of  his  ap- 


prehension he  was  in  the  68th  year  of  his 
age,  and  very  helpless  from  the  natural  in- 
firmities of  life.  Being  however  accused 
of  heresy  by  some  of  the  popish  emissaries 
in  his  neighborhood,  he,  with  his  fellow- 
sufferer  was  taken  before  Bonner  to  be  ex- 
amined with  respect  to  their  faith. 

The  bishop  laid  before  them  the  same 
articles  as  mentioned  in  the  former  lives  ; 
and  they  returned  answers  much  to  the 
same  effect  with  other  advocates  for  the 
truth  of  the  gospel. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1556,  they  were  both 
brought  into  the  consistory  court  at  St. 
Paul's,  where  their  articles  and  answers 
were  publicly  read;  after  which  the  bishop 
endeavored  to  persuade  them  to  recant  their 
opinions  concerning  the  sacrament  of  the 
altar. 

Hugh  Laverock  declared,  that  by  the 
grace  of  God  he  would  stand  to  the  profes- 
sion he  had  already  made,  for  he  could  not 
find  the  least  authority  in  the  word  of  God 
for  approving  the  doctrine  of  the  corporeal 
presence  in  the  sacrament. 

The  bishop  then  addressed  himself  to 
John  Apprice,  and  demanded  what  he  had 
to  say  in  his  defence  ?  The  honest  blind 
man  answered  the  haughty  prelate,  that  the 
doctrine  he  set  forth  and  taught  was  so 
conformable  to  the  world,  that  it  could  not 
be  agreeable  to  the  Scripture  of  God  ;  and 
that  he  was  no  member  of  the  catholic 
church  of  Christ,  seeing  he  made  laws  to 
kill  men,  and  made  the  queen  his  execu- 
tioner. 

The  first  examination  being  over,  they 
were  for  the  present  dismissed,  but  ordered 
to  appear  the  next  day  at  the  bishop's  palace 
at  Fulham.  Being  accordingly  conducted 
there,  the  bishop,  after  some  discourse  with 
them,  and  finding  them  steadfast  in  their 
faith,  pronounced  the  definitive  sentence  ; 
when,  being  delivered  over  to  the  secular 
power,  they  were  committed  to  Newgate. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  they  were  convey- 
ed to  Stratford-le-Bow,  the  place  appointed 
for  their  execution.  As  soon  as  they 
arrived  at  the  stake,  Laverock  threw  away 


B 


206 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


his  crutch,  and  thus  addressed  his  fellow-  ?  of  consecration  spoken  by  the  priest,  the 
sufferer  : —  \  very  natural  body  of  Christ,  and  no  other 

"John    Apprice,    be    of    good    comfort,  j  substance  of  bread  and  wine,  to  be  in  the 
brother,  for  my  lord  of  London  is  our  good  j  sacrament  of  the  altar, 
physician  :  he  will   cure  us  both  shortly,  j      4.  That  they  believed  it  to  be  idolatry  to 
thee  of  thy  blindness,  and  me  of  my  lame-  \  worship  Christ  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar, 
ness."  \      5.  That  they  took  bread  and  wine  in  re- 

After  this  they  both   knelt   down,  and  >.  membrance  of  Christ's  passion, 
prayed  with  great  fervency,  that  God  would        6.  That  they  would  not  follow  the  cross 
enable  them  to  pass,  with  Christian  resolu-  j  in  procession,  nor  be  confessed  to  a  priest. 

They  all  acknowledged  the  justness  of 

I  those  articles,  in  consequence  of  which  they 

t(  were  condemned  by  the  chancellor,  who 

first  endeavored  to  reclaim  them  from  their 


tion,  through  the  fiery  trial,  the  substance 
of  which  may  be  thus  expressed  : — 


"  Now  pain  and  anguish  seize  me,  Lord, 
All  my  support  is  from  thy  word; 
My  soul  dissolves  for  heaviness, 
Uphold  me  with  thy  strength'ning  grace. 
The  proud  have  framed  their  scoffs  and  lies, 
They've  watched  my  feet  with  envious  eyes, 
And  tPinpt  my  soul  to  snares  and  sins ; 
Yet  thy  commands  I  ne'er  decline. 
They  hate  me,  Lord,  without  a  cause, 
They  hate  to  see  me  love  thy  laws  ; 
But  1  will  trust  and  fear  thy  name, 
While  they  shall  live  and  die  in  shame." 


opinions,  and  bring  them  over  to  the  church 
of  Rome  ;  but  all  his  admonitions  and  ex- 
hortations proved  ineffectual. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  1556,  these  three 
pious  Christians  were  led  to  the  stake  in 
the  town  of  Beccles,  amidst  a  great  num- 
These  two  steadfast  believers  in  Christ  \  ber  of  lamenting  spectators.  As  soon  as 
were  both  chained  to  one  stake.  They  <  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  execution  they 
endured  their  sufferings  with  great  fortitude,  (  devoutly  prayed,  and  repeated  the  articles 
and  cheerfully  yielded  up  their  lives  in  <  of  their  faith.  When  they  came  to  that 
testimony  of  the  truth  of  their  Redeemer.    <  article  concerning  the  holy  catholic  church, 

Sir  John  Sillard,  the  high  sheriff,  thus  ad- 
Account  of  the   Examinations  and    Suffer-  \  dressed  them  :   "  That  is  well  said,  sirs ;  I 
ings  of  Thomas  Spicer,  John  Denny,  <  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  you   believe   the 
and  Edmund  Poole,  all  of  the   County  \  catholic  church  ;  this  is  the  best  expression 
of  Suffolk.  <  I  ever  heard  from  you  yet." 

These  three  persons  were  apprehended        To  this  Poole  answered,  that  though  they 
by  the  justices  of  the  county  in  which  they    believed  the  catholic  church,  yet  they  be- 


lived,  and  committed  to  prison,  for  not  at- 
tending mass  at  their  parish  church. 

After  being  some  time  in  confinement, 
they  were  brought  before  the  chancellor  of 
Norwich,  and  the  register,  who  sat  at  the 


lieved  not  in  their  popish  church,  which  is 
no  part  of  Christ's  catholic  church,  and, 
therefore,  no  part  of  their  belief. 

When  they  arose  from  prayer  they  went 
joyfully  to  the  stake,  and  being  chained  to 


town  of  Beccles,  to  examine  them  with  it,  and  the  fagots  lighted,  they  praised  God 
respect  to  their  faith.  The  articles  alleged  \  with  such  cheerfulness  in  the  midst  of  the 
against  them  were  as  follow  : —  <  flames,  as  astonished  the  numerous  specla- 

1.  That  they  believed  not  the  pope  of  j  tors. 

Rome  to  be  supreme  head  immediately  un-  <  Soon  after  they  were  fastened  to  the 
der  Christ,  of  the  universal  catholic  church.  \  stake,  several  bigoted  papists,  called  to  the 

2.  That  they  believed  not  holy  bread  (  executioner  to  throw  fagots  at  them,  in 
and  holy  water,  ashes,  palms,  and  other  j  order  to  stop  their  mouths;  but  our  martyrs, 
like  ceremonies  used  in  the  church,  to  be  I  disregarding  their  malice,  boldly  confessed 
good  and  laudable  for  stirring  up  the  people  ',  the  truth  with  their  latest  breath,  dying,  as 
to  devotion.  \  they  had  lived,  in  certain  hopes  of  a  resur- 

3.  That  they  believed  not  after  the  words  i  rection  to  life  eternal. 


■ 


B 

\   The  Sufferings  and  Martyrdoms  of  Cath- 
s       arine  Hot,  Joan  Hornes,  and  Eliza- 
beth Thackvill. 
\       These  three  pious  women  being  appre- 
•   hended  on  suspicion  of  heresy,  were  car- 
\  ried  before  Sir  John  Mordaunt  and  Edmund 
j  Tyrrel,  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  coun- 
|  ty  of  Essex,  who  sent  them  prisoners  to 
j  the  bishop  of  London,  for  not  conrorming 
to  the  order  of  the  church,  and  not  believ- 
ing the  real  presence  of  Christ's  body  in 
the  sacrament  of  the  altar. 

Being  brought  before  the  bishop,  he  ex- 
hibited to  them  the  articles  usual  on  the 
occasion  ;  to  which  they  answered  as  fol- 
lows : — 

To  the  first,  concerning  their  belief,  that 
there  was  a  catholic  church  of  Christ  up- 
on earth,  they  all  assented. 

To  the  second,  relating  to  the  seven  sac- 
raments, they  said  they  did  not  understand 
properly  what  they  were. 

To  the  third,  concerning  their  baptism, 
they  replied  they  believed  they  were  bap- 
tized, but  knew  not  what  their  godfathers 
and  godmothers  promised  for  them. 

To  the  fourth,  about  their  continuance  in 
the  faith  into  which  they  were  baptized, 
until  they  arrived  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years,  or  the  age  of  discretion,  without  dis- 
approving the  same  ;  they  granted  it  to  be 
true. 

To  this  article  Catharine  Hut  observed, 
that  at  that  time  she  did  not  understand 
what  she  professed. 

Joan  Hornes  added,  that  in  the  days  of 
King  Edward  VI.  she  learned  the  faith  that 
was  then  set  forth,  and  still  continued  in 
the  same  ;   and  would,  with  God's  assist- 
ance, continue  the  remainder  of  her  life.     \ 
To  the  fifth  article,  concerning  the  mass  * 
and  the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  they  said,  > 
they  could   discern   no   excellence   in  the  \ 
mass,    nor    could    they    believe    but   that 
Christ's  natural  body  was  in  heaven,  and 
not  in  the  sacrament  of  the  altar. 

Concerning  the  see  of  Rome,  they  ac- 
knowledged no  supremacy  in  the  same,  nor 
would  they  adhere  to  it. 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY 


207 


To  the  sixth  article  of  their  reconcilia- 
tion to  the  church  of  Rome,  they  refused 
to  be  reconciled  to  the  same. 

To  the  seventh,  of  their  disapproving  the 
service  of  the  church,  and  not  frequenting 
their  parish  church,  they  acknowledged  it 
to  be  true. 

Catharine  Hut  alleged,  as  the  cause  of 
her  absenting  herself  from  church,  that  she 
neither  approved  the  service  in  Latin,  the 
mass,  matins,  or  even  song  ;  nor  were  the 
sacraments  used  and  administered  accord- 
ing to  God's  word.  She  declared,  more- 
over, that  mass  was  an  idol,  neither  was 
the  true  body  and  blood  of  Christ  in  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar,  as  they  compelled 
persons  to  believe. 

To  the  eighth  article,  they  declared,  that 
they  were  all  sent  up  to  the  bishop  of  Lon- 
don, by  Sir  John  Mordaunt  and  Edmund 
Tyrrel,  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  coun- 
ty of  Essex,  because  they  could  not  believe 
the  presence  of  Christ's  body  and  blood  in 
the  sacrament  of  the  altar,  and  for  absent- 
ing themselves  from  their  parish  church. 

To  the  ninth  article,  that  they  were  of 
the  diocese  of  London,  they  all  assented, 
except  Catharine  Hut,  who  said  she  was 
of  the  parish  of  Bocking,  in  Essex,  which 
is  of  the  peculiar  jurisdiction  of  Canter- 
bury, and  not  under  that  of  the  diocese  of 
London. 

On  the  13th  of  April  they  were  again 
brought  before  the  bishop,  and  the  respec- 
tive articles,  with  their  answers,  publicly 
read  in  court,  in  order  to  their  final  judg- 
ment. 

Catharine  Hut,  being  first  examined, 
was  required  to  declare  her  opinion  of  the 
sacrament  of  the  altar,  and  to  return  to  the 
catholic  faith.  To  this  she  replied  that  the 
sacrament,  as  enforced  by  the  papists,  was 
not  truly  God,  but  a  dumb  god,  made  with 
men's  hands  ;  upon  which  she  received 
sentence  of  death. 

Joan  Hornes  was  next  examined,  and 
being  charged  that  she  did  not  believe  the 
sacrament  of  Christ's  body  and  blood  to  be 
Christ  himself,  said,  "If  you  can  make  your 


a 


208 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


|  god  to  shed  blood,  or  show  any  sign  of  a 
)  true,  living  body,  then  will  I  believe  you  : 
i  but  it  is  bread  as  to  the  substance,  and  that 
i  which  you  call  heresy  is  the  manner  in 
which  I  trust  to  serve  my  God  to  the  end 
of  my  life. 

"  Concerning  the  bishop  and  see  of 
Rome,  I  detest  them  as  abominations,  and 
desire  ever  to  be  delivered  from  the  same." 

In  consequence  of  these  answers,  sen- 
tence of  condemnation  was  immediately 
pronounced  on  her. 

Elizabeth  Thackvill  continuing  stead- 
fast in  her  former  confessions,  and  refusing 
to  recant,  shared  the  same  fate  with  the 
other  two  ;  when  they  were  all  delivered 
over  to  the  secular  power,  and  committed  to 
Newgate. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  the  day  appointed 
for  their  execution,  they  were  conducted  to 
Smithfield,  where,  being  all  fastened  to  one 
stake,  and  the  fagots  lighted,  their  bodies 
were  soon  consumed,  after  they  recom- 
mended their  spirits  into  the  hands  of  that 
God,  for  the  truth  of  whose  word  they  joy- 
fully suffered  death,  in  hopes  of  obtaining 
life  everlasting. 

On  the  same  day  these  three  were  exe- 
cuted in  Smithfield,  two  others  suffered  at 
Gloucester,  namely,  Thomas  Drowry,  a 
blind  boy  ;  and  Thomas  Croker,  a  brick- 
layer. 

They  both  submitted  to  their  fate  with 
great  fortitude  and  resignation,  cheerfully 
yielding  up  their  souls  to  Him  who  gave 
them. 


The  persecutions  and  sufferings  of  William 
Fetty,  a  lad  of  twelve  years  of  age,  who 
was  so  barbarously  scourged  in  Bishop 
Bonner's  Palace  in  London,  that  it  occa- 
sioned his  death. 

If   dying    innocently   in   the   cause   of; 
Christ,   and   his    religion,   constitutes    the 
character  of  a  martyr,  no  one  can  be  more 
entitled  to  a  place  in  our  catalogue  than 
this  youth,  who  was  unmercifully  scourged 


to  death,  at  the  instigation  of  the  relentless   ; 
and  cruel  Bonner.    . 

Among  those  who  were  persecuted  and   ; 
imprisoned  for  the  profession  of   Christ's   j 
gospel,  and  yet  delivered  by  the  providence   ; 
of  God,  was  John  Fetty,  the  father  of  the  i 
lad  under  consideration.     He  had  been  ac-  < 
cused,  by  his  own  wife,  to  the  minister  of 
the  parish  in  which  he  lived,  of  absenting  i 
himself  from  church,  the  sacrament  of  the  > 
altar,    confession,    and    other    ceremonies, 
for  neglect  of  which  he  was  apprehended 
by  one  of  the  officers  employed  for  that 
purpose. 

Immediately  after  his  apprehension  his 
wife  grew  delirious,  in  consequence  of 
which,  though  they  were  regardless  of  him, 
pity  toward  that  ungrateful  woman,  wrought 
upon  them  so  sensibly,  that,  for  the  sake  of 
the  preservation  and  support  of  her  and 
her  children,  they  discharged  him,  with  a 
compulsion  that  he  should  continue  in  his 
own  house. 

Notwithstanding  the  ingratitude  of  his 
wife,  he  provided  for  her  in  such  a  manner, 
that  within  the  space  of  three  weeks,  she 
had,  in  some  measure,  recovered  her  sen- 
ses. But  such  was  the  disposition  of  this 
wicked  woman,  that,  notwithstanding  this 
instance  of  his  conjugal  affection,  she  laid 
a  second  information  against  him  ;  upon 
which  he  was  apprehended,  and  carried 
before  Sir  John  Mordaunt,  one  of  the 
queen's  commissioners,  by  whom,  after  ex- 
amination, he  was  sent  to  Lollard's  tower, 
where  he  was  put  into  the  stocks,  and  had 
a  dish  of  water  set  by  him  with  a  stone  in 
it,  to  point  out  to  him,  that  it  was  the  chief 
sustenance  he  might  expect  to  receive. 

After  he  had  been  in  prison  for  the  space 
of  fifteen  days  (the  greatest  part  of  which 
time  he  was  kept  in  the  stocks,  sometimes  ] 
by  one  leg,  and  sometimes  the  other),  Wil-  l 
liam  Fetty,  one  of  his  sons,  came  to  the  I 
bishop's  palace,  in  order  to  obtain  permis-  \ 
sion  to  see  him.  j 

When  he  arrived  there,  one  of  the  bish- 
op's chaplains  asked  him  his  business  ;  the  / 
boy  replied,  he  wanted  to  see  his  father,  at  ) 


VIEW  or  THE  INTERIOR  of  lollard's  tower.— Page  209. 


THE  CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


211  i 


the  same  time  shedding  tears,  and  expres- 
sing the  greatest  unhappiness.  The  chap- 
lain asked  who  was  his  father  ;  and  when 
the  boy  told  him,  he  pointed  toward  Lol- 
lard's tower,  intimating  that  he  was  there 
confined. 

The  chaplain  then  told  him  his  father 
was  a  heretic,  to  which  the  boy  (who  was 
of  a  bold  and  forward  spirit,  and  had  been 
instructed  by  his  father  in  the  reformed  re- 
ligion) answered,  "  My  father  is  no  here- 
tic, but  you  have  Balaam's  mark." 

On  this  the  incensed  priest  took  the  boy 
by  the  hand,  and  led  him  to  a  large  room 
in  the  palace,  where  he  scourged  him  in 
the  most  severe  and  unmerciful  manner ; 
after  which  he  ordered  one  of  his  servants 
to  carry  him  in  his  shirt  to  his  father,  the 
blood  running  down  to  his  heels. 

As  soon  as  he  saw  his  father  he  fell  on  <' 
his  knees,  and  craved  his  blessing.  The 
poor  man  beholding  his  child  in  so  dread- 
ful a  situation,  exclaimed,  with  great  grief, 
"  Alas  !  son,  who  hath  thus  cruelly  treated 
you"?"  The  boy  replied,  "  Seeking  to  find 
you  out,  a  priest,  with  Balaam's  mark,  took 
me  into  the  bishop's  house,  and  treated  me 
in  the  manner  you  see" 

The  servant  then  seized  the  boy  with 
great  wrath,  and  dragging  him  from  his  fa- 
ther, led  him  back  to  the  place  where  he 
had  been  scourged  by  the  priest.  Here  he 
was  kept  three  days,  in  the  course  of  which 
his  former  punishment  was  several  times 
repeated,  though  not  in  so  severe  a  manner 
as  before. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  Bonner, 
in  order  to  make  some  atonement  for  this 
cruel  treatment  of  the  boy,  and  to  appease 
the  father,  determined  to  release  both  of 
them.  He  therefore,  ordered  the  latter  to 
be  brought  before  him,  in  his  bed-chamber, 
early  in  the  morning. 


When  the  poor  man  came  before  the 
bishop,  he  said,  "  God  be  here  and  peace." 
To  which  the  bishop  replied,  "  That  is 
neither  God  speed,  nor  good-morrow." 

One  of  the  bishop's  chaplains  stand- 
ing by,  reviled  Fetty  for  the  speech  he 
had  made  ;  when  he,  after  looking  about, 
and  spying  a  bundle  of  black  beads,  and  a 
small  crucifix,  said,  "  As  Christ  is  hero 
handled,  so  you  deal  with  Christ's  chosen 
people." 

The  bishop  was  so  enraged  at  this,  that 
he  called  him  a  vile  heretic,  and  said,  "I 
will  burn  thee,  or  spend  all  I  possess." 
However,  in  a  little  time  his  passion  cooled, 
and  thinking  of  the  consequences,  that 
might  arise  from  scourging  the  child,  he  or- 
dered them  both  to  be  discharged. 

The  father  immediately  went  home  with 
his  son,  but  the  poor  boy,  from  an  extraor- 
dinary effusion  of  blood,  and  a  mortification 
which  ensued,  died  a  few  days  after,  to  the 
great  grief  of  his  persecuted  and  indulgent 
parent. 

The  old  man  remained,  without  further 
persecution,  during  the  residue  of  his  life, 
often  praising  God  for  delivering  him  out 
of  the  hands  of  his  enemies,  and  expres- 
sing the  sense  he  had  of  the  divine  protec- 
tion in  words  to  the  following  effect :  (see 
engraving.) 

To  heaven  I  lift  my  waiting  eyes, 

There  all  my  hopes  are  laid  ; 
The  Lord,  who  built  the  earth  and  skies. 

Is  my  perpetual  aid. 

Their  feet  shall  never  slide  or  fall, 

Whom  he  designs  to  keep  ; 
His  ear  attends  the  softest  call, 

His  eyes  can  never  sleep. 

He  will  sustain  my  weakest  powers, 

With  his  almighty  arm, 
And  watch  my  most  unguarded  hours 

Against  surprising  harm. 

He  guards  my  soul,  he  keeps  my  breath, 

Where  thickest  dangers  come  : 
I  go  and  come,  secure  from  death, 

Till  God  commands  me  home. 


a. 


<  212 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


PERSECUTIONS  IN  SCOTLAND  DURING  THE  REIGN  OF  HENRY  VIII. 


;HOUGII  the  persecutions 
against  the  protestants  in 
Scotland  were  not  so  prev- 
alent, or  carried  on  with 
such  vigor  as  in  England, 
yet  there  were  many  inno- 
cent people  who  fell  victims  to  bigoted  ma- 
levolence, and  cheerfully  resigned  up  their 
souls  in  testimony  of  the  truth  of  that  gos- 
pel to  which  they  had  strenuously  and  re- 
ligiously adhered. 

The  first  person  we  meet  with  who  suf- 
fered in  Scotland  on  the  score  of  religion, 
was  one  Patrick  Hamilton,  a  gentleman 
of  an  independent  fortune,  and  descended 
from  a  very  ancient  and  honorable  family. 

Having  acquired  a  liberal  education,  and 
being  desirous  of  further  improving  himself 
in  useful  knowledge,  he  left  Scotland,  and 
went  to  the  university  of  Wirtemberg,  in 
Germany,  in  order  to  finish  his  studies. 

During  his  residence  here,  he  became 
intimately  acquainted  with  those  eminent 
lights  of  the  gospel,  Martin  Luther  and 
Philip  Melancthon  ;  from  whose  writings 
and  doctrines  he  strongly  attached  himself 
to  the  protestant  religion. 

After  staying  some  time  at  Wirtemberg, 
he  left  that  place,  and  went  to  the  univer- 
sity of  Marburgh,  which  was  then  but 
lately  established  by  one  Philip,  landgrave 
of  Hesse.  Here  he  formed  an  intimacy 
with  several  distinguished  characters  who 
were  friends  to  the  reformation,  among 
whom  was  Francis  Lambert. 

From  this  person  Mr.  Hamilton  received 
such  enlightened  assistance  that  he  set  up 
public  disputations  on  religion  at  Marburgh, 
and  from  the  solidity  of  his  arguments, 
joined  to  his  well-known  piety,  and  regular 
conduct  in  life,  he  soon  obtained  a  number 
of  followers,  who  were  happy  in  having  the  \ 
opportunity  of  hearing  the  true  gospel  of 
Christ  displayed  in  its  proper  colors. 


After  laboring  here  some  time  in  the 
vineyard  of  his  Redeemer,  he  determined 
to  return  to  his  own  country,  and  there  ex- 
ert himself  in  behalf  of  the  protestant  re- 
ligion. He  accordingly  went  thither,  and 
from  his  great  diligence,  as  well  as  singu- 
lar abilities  as  a  preacher,  soon  became 
popular,  and  was  followed  by  great  numbers 
of  advocates  for  the  cause  of  Christ 

The  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's  (who 
was  a  rigid  papist)  hearing  of  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton's proceedings,  cited  him  to  appear  be- 
fore him  at  his  palace,  where,  after  several 
conferences  with  him  on  different  points  of 
religion,  he  was  dismissed,  the  bishop 
seeming  to  approve  of  his  doctrines,  and 
acknowledging,  that  in  many  particulars 
there  needed  a  reformation  in  the  church. 

This,  however,  was  all  hypocrisy  and 
deceit  ;  the  bishop's  intentions  were  to 
make  a  sacrifice  of  Mr.  Hamilton,  but  he 
was  fearful  that  his  attempts  would  prove 
abortive  by  Mr.  Hamilton's  being  acquaint- 
ed with  many  personages  who  had  free  ac- 
cess to  the  king,  and  that  if  he  should  con- 
vict him  of  heresy,  he  would  escape  by 
means  of  their  intercession. 

To  obviate  this  difficulty,  the  bishop,  who 
had  great  ascendency  over  the  Scottish 
king,  persuaded  him  to  go  on  a  pilgrimage 
to  St.  Dothesse,  in  Rosse.  The  king,  who 
was  a  strong  bigot,  readily  took  the  bish- 
op's advice,  and  a  few  days  after  set  out  on 
his  journey,  little  suspecting  the  bishop's 
intentions. 

The  very  next  day  after  his  departure, 
the  bishop  caused  Mr.  Hamilton  to  be 
seized,  and  being  brought  before  him,  after 
a  sbort  examination  relative  to  his  religious 
principles,  he  committed  him  a  prisoner  to 
the  castle,  at  the  same  time  ordering  him 
to  be  confined  in  the  most  loathsome  part 
of  the  prison. 

The   next   morning   Mr.   Hamilton   was 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


213 


$  brought  before  the  bishop,  and  several  oth- 
$  ers,  for  examination,  when  the  principal  ar- 
ticles exhibited  against  him  were,  his  pub- 
licly disapproving  of  pilgrimages,  purgato- 
ry, prayers  to  saints,  for  the  dead,  &c. 

These  articles  Mr.  Hamilton  acknowl- 
edged to  be  true,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  was  immediately  condemned  to  be  burnt, 
and  that  his  condemnation  might  have  the 
greater  authority,  they  caused  it  to  be  sub- 
scribed by  all  those  of  any  note  who  were 
)  present,  and  to  make  the  number  as  con- 
]  siderable   as   possible,  even   admitted  the 
i  subscription  of  boys  who  were  sons  of  the 

<  nobility. 

I  So  anxious  was  this  bigoted  and  perse- 
?  cuting  prelate   for  the  destruction  of  Mr. 

<  Hamilton,  that  he  ordered  his  sentence  to 
I  be  put  in  execution  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
\  very  day  it  was  pronounced.     He  was  ac- 

>  cordingly  led  to  the  place  appointed  for  the  I 
I  horrid  tragedy,  and  was  attended  by  a  pro- 

5  digious  number  of  spectators.     The  great- 

>  est  part  of  the  multitude  would  not  believe 
I  it  was  intended  he  should  be  put  to  death, 
i  but  that  it  was  only  done  to  frighten  him, 
5  and  thereby  bring  him  over  to  embrace  the 
|  principles   of  the   Romish    religion.     But 

<  they  soon  found  themselves  mistaken. 

When  he  arrived  at  the  stake  he  knelt 
'<  down,  and,  for  some  time,  prayed  with  the 
\  greatest  fervency.  After  this  he  arose,  and 
|  was  accosted  by  a  priest,  who  told  him  that 

if  he  would  recant,  his  life  should  be  spared, 
\  but  our  martyr  was  so  furnished  with  god- 
■■  ly  strength,  that   neither  the  love  of  life, 

nor  fear  of  the  most  cruel  death,  could  in 
\  the  least  move  him  to  deviate  from  the  truth 
[  of  that  gospel  he  had  so  religiously  pro- 
l  fessed,  and  for  which  he  was  determined  ) 
',  to  relinquish  a  miserable  existence. 

Having  finished  his  devotions,  he  took  \ 
J  off  his  gown,  coat,  cap,  and  other  garments, ) 

>  and  delivered  them  to  a  faithful  servant  that 
;  attended  him,  saying,  "  These  will  not  prof- 
|  it  in  the  fire,  but  they  will  profit  thee ;  af- 

!  ter  this,  of  me  thou  canst  receive  no  com-  \ 
I  modity  except  the  example  of  my  death,  > 
i  which  I  beg  thee  to  bear  in  mind,  for  though  I 


it  be  bitter  to  the  flesh,  and  fearful  before 
men,  yet  it  is  the  entrance  into  eternal  life, 
which  none  shall  possess  who  deny  Christ 
Jesus  before  this  wicked  generation." 

After  this  he  was  fastened  to  the  stake, 
and  the  fagots  placed  round  him.  A  quan- 
tity of  gunpowder  having  been  fastened 
under  his  arms,  was  first  set  on  fire,  which 
scorched  his  left  hand  and  one  side  of  his 
face,  but  did  him  no  material  injury,  nei- 
ther did  it  communicate  with  the  fagots.  In 
consequence  of  this,  more  powder  and  com- 
bustible matter  was  brought,  which  being 
set  on  fire  took  effect,  and  the  fagots  being 
kindled, he  called  out,  with  an  audible  voice, 
"  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit !  How  long 
shall  darkness  overwhelm  this  realm  ?  and 
how  long  wilt  thou  suffer  the  tyranny  of 
these  men  ?" 

The  fire  burning  slow  put  him  to  great 
torment,  but  he  bore  it  with  Christian  mag- 
nanimity. What  gave  him  the  greatest 
pain,  was  the  clamor  of  some  wicked  men 
set  on  by  the  friars,  who  frequently  cried 
out,  "  Turn,  thou  heretic  ;  call  upon  our 
lady  ;  say,  Salve  Regina"  &c.  To  whom 
he  replied,  "  Depart  from  me,  and  trouble 
me  not,  thou  messengers  of  Satan."  One 
Campbell,  a  friar,  who  was  the  ringleader, 
still  continuing  to  interrupt  him  by  oppro- 
brious language,  he  said  to  him,  "  Wicked 
man,  God  forgive  thee."  After  which, 
being  prevented  from  further  speech  by  the 
violence  of  the  smoke,  and  the  rapidity  of 
the  flames,  he  resigned  up  his  soul  into 
the  hands  of  him  who  gave  it. 

This  steadfast  believer  in  Christ  suffered 
martyrdom  in  the  year  1527. 

Campbell,  the  friar,  who  had  so  inter- 
rupted him  at  the  place  of  execution,  af- 
terward ran  distracted,  and  died  within  the 
year.  These  two  circumstances  put  to- 
gether, made  an  impression  upon  the  peo- 
ple, and  as  these  points  began  to  be  in- 
quired into,  many  embraced  the  new  opin- 
ions. 

This  execution  is  ascribed  by  Drum- 
mond,  to  a  revenge  of  a  private  quarrel 
against  the    earl   of   Arran.     After   which 


\  214 


-a 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


several  persons,  in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
began  to  inquire  into  the  articles  for  which 
Mr.  Hamilton  had  been  so  inhumanly  treat- 
ed. Many  entertained  favorable  sentiments 
concerning  them,  insomuch  that  several  of  \ 
the  friars,  from  that  time,  declaimed  openly 
against  the  lewd  behavior  of  their  brethren 
the  clergy  ;  and  particularly  that  in  Lent, 
one  Seton,  confessor  to  the  king,  presumed 
to  recommend  some  of  the  new  doctrines 
from  the  pulpit,  and  to  set  forth  to  the  peo- 
(  pie,  the  virtues  which  St.  Paul  requires  in 
a  good  minister. 

This  freedom  was  not  a  little  grating  to 
most  of  the  clergy,  and  they  found  less  dif- 
ficulty to  bring  Seton  into  discredit  at  court, 
as  he  had  used  much  freedom  in  reproving 
the  king.  Mr.  Seton,  however,  perceiving 
his  majesty's  countenance  was  changed, 
and  dreading  the  power  and  influence  of 
the  clergy,  retired  from  court,  and  went  to 
London,  after  having  wrote  a  letter  to  the  \ 
king. 

One  Henry  Forest,  a  young  inoffensive  I 
Benedictine,  being  charged  with  speaking 
respectfully  of  the  above  Patrick  Hamilton,  ;> 
was  thrown  into  prison  ;  and,  in  confessing 
himself  to  a  friar,  owned  that  he  thought 
Hamilton  a  good  man,  and  that  the  articles, 
for  which  he  was  sentenced  to  die,  might 
be  defended.  This  being  revealed  by  the 
friar,  it  was  received  as  evidence,  and  the 
poor  Benedictine  was  sentenced  to  be 
burnt. 

While  consultation  was  held  with  regard 
to  the  manner  of  his  execution,  John  Lind- 
say, one  of  the  archbishop's  gentlemen,  of- 
fered his  advice  to  burn  Friar  Forest  in  some 
cellar,  for,  said  he,  "  The  smoke  of  Pat- 
trick  Hamilton,  hath  infected  all  those  on 
whom  it  blew." 

This  advice  was  taken,  and  the  poor  vic- 
tim was  rather  suffocated  than  burnt. 

The  next  who  fell  victims  for  professing 
the  truth  of  the  gospel,  were  David  Strat- 
\  ton  and  Norman  Gourlay.  The  first  of 
J  these  was  by  trade  a  fisherman,  and  a  very 
|  illiterate  person,  paying  little  regard  either 
j  to  morality  or  religion. 
S3— 


The  bishop  one  day  sent  to  Stratton,  and 
demanded  of  him  a  tithe  of  the  fish  he 
caught ;  to  which  he  returned  for  answer, 
that  if  they  would  have  tithe  of  what  his 
servants  took  in  the  sea,  they  should  re- 
ceive it  in  the  place  where  it  was  caught, 
and  immediately  ordered  the  men  to  carry 
every  tenth  fish,  and  throw  it  into  the  sea. 

Though  the  bishop  was  greatly  irritated 
at  the  behavior  of  Stratton,  yet  he  took  no 
notice  of  him  for  the  present,  but  deter- 
mined to  be  revenged  on  him  at  some  fu- 
ture opportunity. 

In  the  meantime,  Stratton  having  acci- 
dentally fallen  into  the  company  of  some 
godly  and  Christian  people,  he  was  so 
struck  with  their  conversation,  that  it  im- 
pressed on  his  mind  that  sense  of  his  duty 
to  which  he  had  hitherto  been  a  stranger. 

From  this  period  he  attended,  with  the 
greatest  diligence,  to  hear  the  word  of  God, 
which  before  he  had  despised,  and  in  a 
short  time  became  so  serious  a  convert, 
that  he  exhorted  others  to  follow  his  exam- 
ple, and  not  to  fix  their  minds  only  on  the 
concerns  of  the  world. 

The  lord  of  Dun  Areskin,  who  had  been 
enlightened  with  the  truth  of  the  gospel, 
endeavored  to  propagate  it  to  others,  and  for 
that  purpose  frequently  expounded  the 
Scriptures  to  such  as  would  attend  to  hear 
him.  Among  these  were  our  two  martyrs, 
who  never  let  any  opportunity  slip  where- 
by they  might  receive  Christian  knowledge, 
and  it  was  from  their  constant  attendance 
here,  that  they  became,  not  only  good  Chris- 
tians, but  the  most  sincere  friends,  and 
were  never  so  happy  as  when  in  company 
with  each  other. 

Attending  one  day,  as  usual,  to  hear  the 
lord  of  Dun  Areskin,  he  took  for  his  text 
the  following  words  :  "  He  that  denieth  me 
before  men,  or  is  ashamed  of  me  in  the 
midst  of  this  wicked  generation,  I  will  de- 
ny him  before  my  father,  and  his  holy  an- 
gels." 

Stratton  was  so  sensibly  struck  at  hear- 
ing these  words,  that  he  immediately  fell 
on  his  knees,  and  steadfastly  lifting  up  his 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


215  \ 


eyes  and  hands  to  heaven,  thus  exclaimed  : 
"  O  Lord,  I  have  been  wicked,  and  justly 
mayest  thou  withdraw  thy  grace  from  me  : 
but,  Lord,  for  thy  mercy  sake,  let  me  nev- 
er deny  thee,  nor  thy  truth,  for  fear  of  death, 
or  any  corporeal  pain." 

The  great  attention  these  two  persons 
paid  to  the  duties  of  religion,  made  them 
so  distinguished,  that  an  information  of  her- 
esy was  laid  against  them  by  their  enemies 
before  the  archbishop,  who  now  determined 
to  punish  Stratton  for  the  treatment  he  had 
received  from  him  before  his  conversion. 

They  were  accordingly  both  apprehend- 
ed and  committed  to  prison,  where  they 
were  confined  for  some  weeks,  during 
which  they  were  very  cruelly  treated. 
They  had  scarce  sufficient  refreshment  al- 
lowed them  to  preserve  their  miserable  ex- 
istence, nor  were  they  suffered  to  be  seen 
by  any  of  their  friends  or  acquaintances. 

At  length  they  were  brought  before  the 
archbishop,  at  Holy-Rood  house,  for  exam- 
ination, the  king  himself  being  present  on 
the  occasion. 

Several  articles  of  heresy  were  exhibit- 
ed against  them,  all  which  they  answered 
with  great  fortitude  and  composure  of  mind. 
The  archbishop  endeavored  to  prevail  on 
them  to  recant  their  errors,  and  return  to 
the  mother-church  ;  but  they  denied  having 
committed  any  offence,  and  said  they  were 
determined  to  preserve  their  religious  sen- 
timents, in  opposition  to  every  effort  that 
might  be  offered  to  make  them  alter  their 
opinions. 

In  consequence  of  this  the  archbishop 
pronounced  on  them  the  dreadful  sentence 
of  death,  which  was  that  they  should  be 
first  hanged,  and  then  burnt ;  and  in  the  af- 
ternoon of  the  same  day  they  were  led  to 
the  place  appointed  for  their  execution. 

As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  the  fatal  spot, 
they  both  kneeled  down,  and  prayed  for 
some  time,  with  great  fervency.  They  then 
arose,  when  Stratton  addressing  himself  to 
the  spectators,  exhorted  them  to  lay  aside 
their  superstitious  and  idolatrous  notions, 
and  employ  their  time  in  seeking  the  true 


light  of  the  gospel.  He  would  have  said 
more,  but  was  prevented  by  the  officers,  at 
the  desire  of  the  archbishop,  who  attended. 

Their  sentence  was  then  put  into  execu- 
tion, and  they  cheerfully  resigned  up  their 
souls  to  that  God  who  gave  them,  hoping, 
through  the  merits  of  the  great  Redeemer, 
for  a  glorious  resurrection  to  life  immortal. 
They  suffered  in  the  year  1534. 

The  martyrdoms  of  the  two  before-men- 
tioned persons  were  soon  followed  by  that 
\  of  Mr.  Thomas  Forret,  who,  for  a  consid- 
erable time,  had  been  a  dean  of  the  Romish 
church. 

This  person,  having  himself  been  en- 
lightened with  the  truth  of  the  gospel,  was 
desirous  of  conveying  the  knowledge  of  it 
to  others.  To  effect  this  he  preached  ev- 
ery sabbath  to  his  parishioners,  from  the 
epistles  and  gospels  of  the  day,  which 
highly  offending  the  friars  (who  claimed 
that  privilege  to  themselves  only)  they  ac- 
cused him  of  heresy,  and  laid  an  informa- 
tion against  him  before  the  bishop  of  Dun- 
keld. 

Though  the  bishop  would  willingly  have 
avoided  concerning  himself  in  this  matter, 
yet,  from  the  persons  who  laid  the  infor- 
mation, he  thought  it  most  prudent  to  take 
some  notice  of  it.  He  accordingly  ordered 
Dean  Forret  to  appear  before  him,  which 
being  immediately  complied  with,  the  fol- 
lowing dialogue  ensued  : — 

Bishop.  My  good  dean,  I  love  you  well, 
and  therefore  I  must  give  you  counsel  how 
to  govern  yourself.  I  am  informed  that 
you  preach  the  epistle  and  gospel  every 
Sunday  to  your  people,  and  that  you  take 
not  your  dues  from  them,  which  is  very 
prejudicial  to  the  churchmen.  Therefore, 
my  good  dean  Thomas,  I  would  advise 
you  to  take  your  dues,  otherwise  it  will  be 
too  much  to  preach  every  Sunday  ;  for  by 
so  doing  you  make  the  people  think  we 
should  do  the  same.  It  is  enough  for  you, 
when  you  find  a  good  epistle  or  gospel,  to 
set  forth  and  preach  the  liberty  of  the  ho- 
ly mother-church. 

Dean.  My  lord,  I  presume  none  of  my 


JT 


216 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


parishioners  complain  for  my  not  taking  my 
dues.  And  whereas,  you  say  it  is  too  much 
to  preach  every  Sunday,  I  think  it  is  too 
little,  and  wish  your  lordship  would  follow 
my  example. 

Bishop.  Nay,  nay,  Dean  Thomas,  let  that 
be,  for  we  are  not  ordained  to  preach. 

Dean.  My  lord,  you  told  me  to  preach 
when  I  meet  with  a  good  epistle  and  gos- 
pel ;  I  have  read  them  all  over,  and  I  know 
no  bad  ones  among  them,  but  when  your 
lordship  shows  me  such  I  will  pass  by 
them. 

Bishop.  I  thank  God  I  never  knew  what 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments  were,  and  I 
desire  not  to  know  anything  more  than  my 
pontifical.  Go  your  ways,  and  lay  aside 
all  these  fancies ;  for  if  you  persevere 
herein,  you  will  repent  when  it  is  too  late. 

Dean.  I  trust  my  cause  is  good  and  just 
in  the  presence  of  God,  and  therefore  I 
care  not  what  follows. 

The  dean  then  took  leave  of  the  bishop, 
but  was,  a  short  time  after,  summoned  to 
appear  before  Cardinal  Beaton,  archbishop 
of  St.  Andrew's,  by  whom,  after  a  short  ex- 
amination, he  was  condemned  to  be  burnt 
as  a  heretic. 

The  like  sentence  was  pronounced,  at 
the  same  time,  on  four  others,  namely,  Kil- 
lor  and  Beverage,  two  blacksmiths  ;  Dun- 
can Simson,  a  priest ;  and  Robert  Forrest- 
er, a  gentleman.  They  were  all  burnt  to- 
gether, on  the  castle  hill,  at  Edinburgh,  the 
last  day  of  February,  1538. 

They  endured  their  sufferings  with  great 
fortitude,  and  died  in  the  most  lively  exer- 
cise of  faith  in  Christ,  to  obtain  eternal 
life  in  that  glorious  state,  where  the  wicked 
cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are  at 
rest. 

The  year  following  the  martyrdoms  of 
the  before-mentioned  persons,  viz.,  1539, 
two  others  were  apprehended  on  a  suspi- 
cion of  heresy  :  namely,  Jerom  Russel, 
and  Alexander  Kennedy,  a  youth  about 
eighteen  years  of  age. 

These  two  persons,  after,  being  some 
time  confined  in  prison,  were  brought  be- 


fore the  archbishop  for  examination.  Ken- 
nedy's tender  years  inclining  him  to  pusil- 
lanimity, he  would  at  first  have  recanted  ; 
but  being  suddenly  refreshed  by  divine  in- 
spiration, and  feeling  himself,  as  it  were,  a 
new  creature,  his  mind  was  changed,  and 
falling  on  his  knees,  he,  with  a  cheerful 
countenance  thus  expressed  himself: — 

"  O  eternal  God  !  how  wonderful  is  that 
love  and  mercy  thou  bearest  unto  mankind, 
and  to  me,  a  miserable  wretch  above  all 
others  !  for  even  now,  when  I  would  have 
denied  thee,  and  thy  son  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  my  only  Savior,  and  so  have  cast 
myself  into  everlasting  damnation,  thou,  by 
thine  own  hand,  hast  pulled  me  from  the 
very  bottom  of  hell,  and  made  me  to  feel 
that  heavenly  comfort  which  has  taken  from 
me  that  ungodly  fear  wherewith  I  was  be-  ) 
fore    oppressed.     Now  I  defy  death  ;    do  \ 
with  me  as  you  please  ;  I  praise  God  I  am  | 
ready." 

In  the  course  of  their  examination,  Rus- 
sel, being  a  very  sensible  man,  reasoned 
learnedly  against  his  accusers.  They,  in 
return,  made  use  of  very  opprobrious  lan- 
guage ;  to  which  Russel  replied  as  follows  : 
"  This  is  your  hour  and  power  of  darkness  : 
now  ye  sit  as  judges,  and  we  stand  wrong- 
fully accused,  and  more  wrongfully  to  be 
condemned  ;  but  the  day  will  come  when 
our  innocence  will  appear,  and  ye  shall  see 
your  own  blindness,  to  your  everlasting 
confusion.  Go  on,  and  fill  the  measure  of 
your  iniquity." 

The  examination  being  over,  and  both 
of  them  deemed  heretics,  the  archbishop 
pronounced  the  dreadful  sentence  of  death, 
and  they  were  immediately  delivered  over 
to  the  secular  power  in  order  for  execution. 

The  next  day  they  were  led  to  the  place 
appointed  for  them  to  suffer  ;  in  their  way 
to  which  Russel,  seeing  his  fellow-sufferer 
have  the  appearance  of  timidity  in  his  coun- 
tenance, thus  addressed  him  :  "  Brother, 
fear  not ;  greater  is  He  that  is  in  us,  than 
he  that  is  in  the  world.  The  pain  that  we 
are  to  suffer  is  short,  and  shall  be  light  ; 
but   our  joy  and   consolation  shall  never 


A    WOMAN    TIED    IN    A    BACK,  AND    FOUR    MEN    HUNG. Page  217. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


219 


have  an  end.  Let  us,  therefore,  strive  to  2 
enter  into  our  Master  and  Savior's  joy,  by  i 
the  same  strait  way  which  he  hath  taken  ( 
before  us.  Death  can  not  hurt  us,  for  it  is  l 
already  destroyed  by  him,  for  whose  sake  / 
we  are  now  going  to  suffer."  < 

When  they  arrived  at  the  fatal  spot,  they  > 
both  kneeled  down  and  prayed  for  some  < 
time  ;  after  which,  being  fastened  to  the 
stake,  and  the  fagots  lighted,  they  cheer- 
fully resigned  their  souls  into  the  hands  of 
Him  who  gave  them,  in  full  hopes  of  an  ev- 
erlasting reward  in  the  heavenly  mansions. 

In  1543,  the  archbishop  of  St.  Andrew's 
made  a  visitation  into  various  parts  of  his 
diocese,  where  several  persons  were  in- 
formed against  at  Perth  for  heresy.  Among 
these  the  following  were  condemned  to  die, 
viz.,  William  Anderson,  James  Finlayson, 
Robert  Lamb,  James  Hunter,  James  Ravel- 
son,  Helen  Stark. 

The  accusations  laid  against  these  re- 
spective persons  were  as  follow  : — 

The  first  four  were  accused  of  having 
hung  up  the  image  of  Sir  Francis,  nailing 
ram's  horns  on  his  head,  and  fastening  a 
cow's  tail  to  his  back  ;  but  the  principal 
matter  on  which  they  were  condemned,  was 
having  regaled  themselves  with  a  goose  on 
a  fast  day. 

James  Ravelson  was  accused  of  having 
adorned  his  house  with  the  three-crowned 
diadem  of  Peter,  carved  in  wood,  which 
the  archbishop  conceived  to  be  done  in 
mockery  of  his  cardinal's  cap. 

Helen  Stark  was  accused  of  not  having 
accustomed  herself  to  pray  to  the  virgin 
Mary,  more  especially  during  her  confine- 
ment. 

On  these  respective  accusations  they 
were  all  found  guilty,  and  immediately  re-  | 
ceived  sentence  of  death  ;  the  four  men  for  \ 
eating  the  goose  to  be  hanged  ;  James 
Ravelson  to  be  burnt ;  and  the  woman, 
with  her  sucking  infant,  to  be  put  into  a 
sack,  and  drowned. 

The  four  men,  with  the  woman  and  child, 
suffered  at  the  same  time  ;  but  James  Rav- 
elson was  not  executed  till  some  day6  after. 


On  the  day  appointed  for  the  execution 
of  the  former,  they  were  all  conducted,  un- 
der a  proper  guard,  to  the  place  where  they 
were  to  suffer,  and  were  attended  by  a  pro- 
digious number  of  spectators. 

As  soon  as  they  arrived  at  the  place  of 
execution,  they  all  prayed  fervently  for 
some  time  ;  after  which  Robert  Lamb  ad- 
dressed himself  to  the  spectators,  exhort- 
ing them  to  fear  God,  and  to  quit  the  prac- 
tice of  papistical  abominations. 

The  four  men  were  all  hanged  on  the 
same  gibbet ;  and  the  woman  and  her 
sucking  child  were  conducted  to  a  river 
adjoining,  when,  being  fastened  in  a  large 
sack,  they  were  thrown  into  it,  and  drowned. 

They  all  suffered  their  fate  with  becom- 
ing fortitude  and  resignation,  committing 
their  departing  spirits  to  that  Redeemer 
who  was  to  be  their  final  judge,  and  who, 
they  had  reason  to  hope,  would  usher  them 
into  the  realms  of  everlasting  bliss. 

When  we  reflect  on  the  sufferings  of 
these  persons,  we  are  naturally  induced, 
both  as  men  and  Christians,  to  lament  their 
fate,  and  to  express  our  feelings  by  drop- 
ping the  tear  of  commiseration.  The  mur- 
dering four  men,  for  little  other  reason  than 
that  of  satisfying  nature  with  an  article  sent 
by  Providence  for  that  very  purpose  (mere- 
ly because  it  was  on  a  day  prohibited  by 
ridiculous  bigotry  and  superstition),  is 
shocking  indeed ;  but  the  fate  of  the  inno- 
cent woman,  and  her  still  more  harmless 
infant,  makes  human  nature  shake,  and  al- 
most tremble,  to  think  there  is  such  a  being 
as  man.  0  horrid  bigotry,  to  what  lengths 
wilt  thou  not  go  !  What  sacrifice  wilt  thou 
not  make,  to  gratify  the  basest  and  most 
inhuman  of  passions!     (See  engraving.) 

Many  others  were  cruelly  persecuted  du- 
ring the  archbishop's  stay  at  Perth,  some 
being  banished,  and  others  confined  in 
loathsome  dungeons.  John  Rogers,  a  pi- 
ous man,  was  murdered  in  prison,  and  his 
body  thrown  over  the  walls  into  the  street ; 
after  which  the  archbishop  caused  a  report 
to  be  spread,  that  he.  had  met  with  his 
death  by  attempting  to  make  his  escape. 


m 

'  220 


'M 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


THE  LIFE,  SUFFERINGS,  AND  MARTYRDOM,  OF  GEORGE  WISHART. 


EORGE  WISHART  was  hhe  town  any  more,  for  he  was  determined 
born  in  Scotland,  and  af-  j  not  to  suffer  it. 

ter  receiving  a  grammat-  ]  This  sudden  rebuff  greatly  surprised 
ical  education  at  a  pri-  \  Wishart,  who,  after  a  short  pause,  looking 
vate  school,  he  left  that  sorrowfully  on  the  speaker  and  the  audi- 
place,  and  finished  his  ence,  said,  "  God  is  my  witness,  that  I  nev- 
studies  at  the  university  of  Cambridge.  In  er  minded  your  trouble  but  your  comfort  ; 
order  to  improve  himself  as  much  as  possi-  <  yea,  your  trouble  is  more  grievous  to  me 
ble  in  the  knowledge  of  literature,  he  trav-  i  than  it  is  to  yourselves  :  but  I  am  assured, 
elled  into  various  parts  abroad,  where  he  to  refuse  God's  word,  and  to  chase  from 
distinguished  himself  for  his  great  learning  you  his  messenger,  shall  not  preserve  you 
and  abilities,  both  in  philosophy  and  divin-  from  trouble,  but  shall  bring  you  into  it : 
ity.  His  desire  to  promote  true  knowledge  for  God  shall  send  you  ministers  that  shall 
and  science  among  men,  accompanied  the  fear  neither  burning  nor  banishment.  I 
profession  of  it  himself.  He  was  very  ready  have  offered  you  the  word  of  salvation, 
to  communicate  what  he  knew  to  others,  With  the  hazard  of  my  life  I  have  remained 
and  frequently  read  various  authors  both  in  •>  among  you  :  now  ye  yourselves  refuse  me  ; 
his  own  chamber,  and  in  the  public  schools,  j  and  I  must  leave  my  innocence  to  be  de- 
After  being  some  time  abroad  he  returned  <  clared  by  my  God.  If  it  be  long  prosper- 
to  England,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  ous  with  you,  I  am  not  led  by  the  spirit  of 
Cambridge,  where  he  was  admitted  a  mem- j  truth  :  but  if  unlooked-for  trouble  come  up- 
ber  of  Bennet  college.  Having  taken  up  \  on  you,  acknowledge  the  cause,  and  turn 
his  degrees,  he  entered  into  holy  orders,  to  God,  who  is  gracious  and  merciful, 
and  expounded  the  gospel  in  so  clear  and  But  if  you  turn  not  at  the  first  warning,  he 
intelligible  manner,  as  highly  to  delight  his  will  visit  you  with  fire  and  sword."  At 
numerous  auditors.  I  the  close  of  this  speech  he  left  the  pulpit, 

Being  desirous  of  propagating  the  true  I  and  retired, 
gospel  in  his  own  country,he  left  Cambridge  >  After  this  he  went  into  the  west  of  Scot- 
in  1544,  and  in  his  way  thither  preached  >  land,  where  he  preached  God's  word,  which 
in  most  of  the  principal  towns,  to  the  great  >  was  gladly  received  by  many  ;  till  the  arch- 
pleasure  of  himself,  and  the  satisfaction  of  bishop  of  Glasgow,  at  the  instigation  of 
his  hearers.  >  Cardinal  Beaton,  came  with  his  train,  to 

On  his  arrival  in  Scotland  he  preached  >  the  town  of  Ayr,  to  suppress  Wishart,  and 
first  at  Montrose,  and  afterward  at  Dundee.  I  insisted  on  having  the  church  himself  to 
In  this  last  place  he  made  a  public  exposi-  ?  preach  in.  Some  opposed  this  ;  but  Wis- 
tion  of  the  epistle  to  the  Romans,  which  i  hart  said,  "  Let  him  alone,  his  sermon  will 
he  went  through  with  such  grace  and  free-  l  not  do  much  hurt ;  let  us  go  to  the  market 
dom,  as  greatly  alarmed  the  papists.  I  cross."     This  was  agreed  to,  and  Wishart 

In  consequence  of  this  (at  the  instigation  \  preached  a  sermon  that  gave  universal  sat- 
of  Cardinal  Beaton,  the  archbishop  of  St.  \  isfaction  to  his  hearers,  and  at  the  same 
Andrew's),  one  Robert  Miln,  a  principal  time  confounded  his  enemies, 
man  at  Dundee,  went  to  the  church  where  I  He  continued  to  propagate  the  gospel 
Wishart  preached,  and  in  the  middle  of  his  to  the  people  with  the  greatest  alacrity, 
discourse  publicly  told  him  not  to  trouble  >  preaching    sometimes    in    one    place,   and 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


221 


sometimes  in  another;  but  coming  to  Mack-  l  them.  After  this  the  plague  abated ;  though, 
lene,  he  was,  by  force,  kept  out  of  the  I  in  the  midst  of  it,  Wishart  constantly  vis- 
church.  Some  of  his  followers  would  have  j  ited  those  that  lay  in  the  greatest  extremi- 
broken  in  ;  upon  which  he  said  to  one  of  j  ty,  and  comforted  them  by  his  exhortations, 
them,  "  Brother,  Jesus  Christ  is  as  mighty  j      When   he   took  leave  of  the  people  of 


in  the  fields  as  in  the  church  ;  and  himself: 
often  preached  in  the  desert,  at  the  sea-side, 
and  other  places.     The  like  word  of  peace 
God  sends  by  me  :  the  blood  of  none  shall 
be  shed  this  day  for  preaching  it." 


Dundee,  he   said,  that  "  God  had   almost 
put  an  end  to  that  plague,  and  he  was  now  \ 


called  to  another  place." 

He  went  thence  to  Montrose,  where  he 
sometimes  preached,  but  spent  most  of  his 


He  then  went  into  the  fields,  where  he    his  time  in  private  meditation  and  prayer. 


preached  to  the  people  for  above  three 
hours  ;  and  such  an  impression  did  his  ser- 
mon make  on  the  minds  of  his  hearers,  that 
one  of  the  most  wicked  men  in  all  the  coun- 
try, the  lord  of  Sheld,  became  a  convert  to 
the  truth  of  the  gospel. 

A  short  time  after  this,  Mr.  Wishart  re- 


It  is  said,  that  before  he  left  Dundee,  and 
while  he  was  engaged  in  the  labors  of  love 
to  the  bodies,  as  well  as  to  the  souls  of 
those  poor  afflicted  people,  Cardinal  Beaton 
engaged  a  desperate  popish  priest,  called 
John  Weighton,  to  kill  him  ;  the  attempt  to 
execute  which,  was  as  follows  :  one  day, 


related  to  him,  he,  notwithstanding  the  im- 
portunity of  his  friends  to  detain  him,  de- 
termined to  go  thither,  saying,  "  They  are 
now  in  troubles,  and  need  comfort.  Per- 
haps this  hand  of  God  will  make  them  now 


ceived  intelligence  that  the  plague  was  <  after  Wishart  had  finished  his  sermon,  and 
broke  out  in  Dundee.  It  began  four  days  \  the  people  departed,  the  priest  stood  wait- 
after  he  was  prohibited  from  preaching  <  ing  at  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  with  a  na- 
there,  and  raged  so  extremely,  that  it  was  <  ked  dagger  in  his  hand  under  his  gown, 
almost  beyond  credit  how  many  died  in  the  <  But  Mr.  Wishart,  having  a  sharp,  piercing 
space  of   twenty-four  hours.     This   being  <  eye,  and  seeing  the  priest  as  he  came  from 


the  pulpit,  said  to  him,  "  My  friend,  what  j 
would  you  have  ?"  And  immediately  clap-  5 
ping  his  hand  upon  the  dagger,  took  it  from  \ 
him.  The  priest  being  terrified,  fell  on  his  j 
knees,  confessed  his  intention,  and  craved  \ 


to  magnify  and  reverence  the  word  of  God,  <  pardon.     A  noise  being  hereupon   raised,  t 
which  before  they  lightly  esteemed."  <  and   it   coming  to  the  ears  of  those  who  I 

Here  he  was  with  joy  received  by  the  <  were  sick,  they  cried,  "  Deliver  the  traitor  > 
godly.     He  chose  the  east  gate  for  the  place  j  to  us,  we  will  take  him  by  force  ;"  and  they  \ 
of  his  preaching  ;  so  that  the  healthy  were  \  burst  in  at  the  gate.     But  Wishart,  taking  | 
within,  and  the  sick  without  the  gate.     He  \  the  priest  in  his  arms,  said,  "  Whatsoever 
took  his  text  from  these  words,  "  He  sent  \  hurts  him  shall  hurt  me  ;  for  he  hath  done  > 
his  word  and  healed  them,"  &c.     In  this  >  me  no  mischief,  but  much  good,  by  teach-  \ 
sermon  he  chiefly  dwelt  upon  the  advantage  s  ing  me  more  heedfulness  for  the  time  to 
and  comfort  of  God's  word,  the  judgments  s  come."     By  this  conduct  he  appeased  the 
that  ensue  upon  the  contempt  or  rejection  \  people,  and   saved  the  life  of  the  wicked 
of  it,  the  freedom  of  God's  grace  to  all  his  S  priest. 

people,  and  the  happiness  of  those  of  his  >  Soon  after  his  return  to  Montrose,  the 
elect,  whom  he  takes  to  himself  out  of  this  5  cardinal  again  conspired  his  death,  causing 
miserable  world.  The  hearts  of,  his  hear-  \  a  letter  to  be  sent  to  him,  as  if  from  his  fa- 
ers  were  so  raised  by  the  divine  force  of  j  miliar  friend,  the  laird  of  Kinnier,  in  which 
this  discourse,  as  not  to  regard  death,  but  >  he  was  desired  with  all  possible  speed  to 
to  judge  them  the  more  happy  who  should  \  come  to  him,  because  he  was  tak?n  with  a 
then  be  called,  not  knowing  whether  they  )  sudden  sickness.  In  the  meantime,  the  car- 
might  have   such  a  comforter  again  with  \  dinal  bad  provided  sixty  men  armed,  to  lie 


222 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


in  wait  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Mon- 
trose, in  order  to  murder  him  as  he  passed 
that  way. 

The  letter  coming  to  Wishart's  hand  by 
a  boy,  who  also  brought  him  a  horse  for 
the  journey,  Wishart,  accompanied  by  some 
honest  men,  his  friends,  set  forward  ;  but 
something  particular  striking  his  mind  by 
the  way,  he  returned  back,  which  they 
wondering  at,  asked  him  the  cause  ;  to 
whom  he  said :  "  I  will  not  go  ;  I  am  for- 
bidden of  God ;  I  am  assured  there  is 
treason.  Let  some  of  you  go  to  yonder 
place,  and  tell  me  what  you  find."  Which 
doing,  they  made  the  discovery  :  and  hast- 
ily returning,  they  told  Mr.  Wishart : 
whereupon  he  said:  "  I  know  I  shall  end 
my  life  by  that  bloodthirsty  man's  hands  j 
but  it  will  not  be  in  this  manner." 

A  short  time  after  this  he  left  Montrose, 
and  proceeded  to  Edinburgh,  in  order  to 
propagate  the  gospel  in  that  city.  By  the 
way  he  lodged  with  a  faithful  brother,  called 
James  Watson,  of  Inner-Goury.  In  the 
middle  of  the  night,  he  got  up,  and  went 
into  the  yard,  which  two  men  hearing,  they 
privately  followed  him. 

While  in  the  yard,  he  fell  on  his  knees, 
and  prayed  for  sometime  with  the  greatest 
fervency  ;  after  which  he  arose,  and  re- 
turned to  his  bed.  Those  who  attended 
him,  appearing  as  though  they  were  igno- 
rant of  all,  came  and  asked  him  where  he 
had  been  :  but  he  would  not  answer  them. 
The  next  day  they  importuned  him  to  tell 
them,  saying,  "  Be  plain  with  us,  for  we 
heard  your  mourning,  and  saw  your  ges- 
tures." 

On  this  he,  with  a  dejected  countenance, 
said,  "  I  had  rather  you  had  been  in  your 
beds."  But  they  still  pressing  upon  him 
to  know  something,  he  said,  "  I  will  tell 
you  ;  I  am  assured  that  my  warfare  is  near 
at  an  end,  and  therefore  pray  to  God  with 
me,  that  I  shrink  not  when  the  battle  wax- 
eth  most  hot." 

When  they  heard  this  they  wept,  saying, 
"  This  is  small  comfort  to  us."  Then,  said 
he  :  "  God  shall  send  you  comfort  after  me. 


This  realm  shall  be  illuminated  with  the 
light  of  Christ's  gospel,  as  clearly  as  any 
realm  since  the  days  of  the  apostles.     The 
house  of  God  shall  be  built  in  it ;  yea,  it 
shall  not  lack,  in  despite  of   all  enemies, 
the  top-stone  ;  neither  will  it  be  long  be-  \ 
fore  this  be  accomplished.     Many  shall  not  / 
suffer  after  me,  before  the  glory  of  God  > 
shall  appear,  and  triumph  in  despite  of  Sa-  j 
tan.     But,   alas,   if  the    people    afterward  j 
shall    prove    unthankful,  then   fearful    and  j 
terrible  will  the  plagues  be  that  shall  fol-  , 
low." 

The  next  day  he  proceeded  on  his  jour-  ; 
ney,  and  when  he   arrived   at  Leith,  not  i 
meeting  with  those  he  expected,  he  kept 
himself  retired  for  a  day  or  two.     He  then  I 
grew  pensive,  and  being  asked  the  reason, 
he  answered :  "  What  do  I  differ  from  a  dead 
man  ?     Hitherto  God  hath  used  my  labors 
for  the  instruction  of  others,  and  to  the  dis- 
closing of  darkness  ;  and  now  I  lurk  as  a 
man    ashamed    to    show    his    face."     His 
friends   perceived   that  his   desire  was  to  I 
preach,  whereupon  they  said  to  him,  "  It  is  < 
most  comfortable  for  us  to  hear  you,  but  be-  > 
cause  we  know  the  danger  wherein  you  \ 
stand,  we  dare  not  desire  it." — "  But,"  said  j 
he,  "  If  you  dare  hear,  let  God  provide  for  j 
me  as  best  pleaseth  him  ;"  after  which  it  l 
was  concluded,  that  the  next  day  he  should  i 
preach  in  Leith.     His  text  was  of  the  par-  \ 
able  of  the  sower,  Matt.  xiii.     The  sermon 
ended,  the  gentlemen  of  Lothian,  who  were  \ 
earnest  professors  of  Jesus  Christ,  would  < 
not  suffer  him  to  stay  at  Leith,  because  the  s 
governor  and  cardinal  were  shortly  to  come 
to  Edinburgh ;    but   took   him   along   with  ; 
them;  and  he  preached  at  Branstone,  Long-  ' 
niddry,  and  Ormistone.     He  also  preached 
at  Inveresk,  near  Muselburgh  :  he   had  a  ' 
great  concourse  of  people,  and  among  them 
Sir   George    Douglas,    who    after    sermon 
said  publicly:   "  I  know  that  the  governor 
and  cardinal  will  hear  that  I  have  been   at  \ 
this  sermon  ;  but  let  them  know  that  I  will 
avow  it,  and  will   maintain  both  the  doc-  \ 
trine,  and  the  preacher,  to  the  uttermost  of  \ 
my  power." 

J 


R' 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


223 


-9 


j  Among  others  that  came  to  hear  him  I  world,  because  he  saw  that  men  began  to 
i  preach,  there  were  two  Gray-friars,  who,  <  be  weary  of  God  :  "  For,"  said  he  '■'  the 
j  standing  at  the  church  door,  whispered  to  \  gentlemen  of  the  west  have  sent  me  word, 

<  such  as  came  in  ;  which  Wishart  observ-  <  that  they  can  not  keep  their  meeting  at 
I  ing,  said  to  the  people,  "  I  pray  you  make  \  Edinburgh." 

\  room  for  these  two  men,  it  may  be  they  <  Knox,  wondering  he  should  enter  into 
'  come  to  learn  ;"  and  turning  to  them,  he  <  conference  about  these  things,  immediate- 
\  said,  "  Come  near,  for  I  assure  you  you  <  ly  before  his  sermon,  contrary  to  his  usual 
\  shall  hear  the  word  of  truth,  which  this  \  custom,  said  to  him,  "  Sir,  sermon-time  ap- 
jj  day  shall  seal  up  to  you  either  your  salva-  \  proaches  ;  I  will  leave  you  for  the  present 
\  tion  or  damnation  :"    after  which  he  pro-  <  to  your  meditations." 

\  ceeded  in  his  sermon,  supposing  they  would  I      Wishart's  sad  countenance  declared  the 
be  quiet ;  but  when  he  perceived  that  they  i  grief  of  his  mind.     At  length,  he  went  in- 
still continued   to   disturb   the  people  that  \  to  the  pulpit,  and  his  auditory  being  very 
stood  near  them,  he  said  to  them  the  sec- 1  small,  he  introduced  his  sermon  with  the 
\  ond  time,  with  an  angry  countenance  :  "  O  j  following    exclamation  :    "  0    Lord  !    how 
|  ministers  of   Satan,  and  deceivers  of  the    long  shall  it  be,  that  thy  holy  word  shall 
\  souls  of  men,  will  ye  neither  hear  God's    be  despised,  and  men  shall  not  regard  their 
truth  yourselves,  nor  suffer  others  to  hear  \  own  salvation  ?  I  have  heard  of  thee,  O 
\  it  ?     Depart,  and  take  this  for  your  portion  ;  s  Haddington,  that  in  thee  there  used  to  be 
\  God  shall   shortly  confound   and  disclose  \  two  or  three  thousand  persons  at  a  vain  and 
\  your  hypocrisy  within  this  kingdom  ;    ye  \  wicked  play  ;   and  now,  to  hear  the  mes- 
\  shall  be  abominable  to  men,  and  your  pla- 1  senger  of  the  eternal  God,  of  all  the  par- 
|  ces  and  habitations  shall  be  de-solate."     He  I  ish  can  scarce  be  numbered  one  hundred 
i  spoke   this   with  much  vehemency ;   then  \  present.     Sore    and    fearful    shall    be   the 
',  turning  to  the  people,  said,  "  These  men  >  plagues  that  shall  ensue  upon  this  thy  con- 
\  have  provoked  the  spirit  of  God  to  anger ;"  >  tempt.     With  fire  and  sword  shalt  thou  be 
\  after  which  he  proceeded  on  his  sermon,  >  plagued  ;  yea,  thou  Haddington  in  special, 
\  and  finished  it  highly  to  the  satisfaction  of )  strangers  shall  possess  thee  ;  and  you,  the 
\  his  hearers.  >  present  inhabitants,  shall  either  in  bondage 

5       From  hence  he  went   and  preached  at  I  serve  your  enemies,  or  else  you  shall  be 
|  Branstone,  Languedine,  Ormistone,  and  In-  \  chased    from   your  own   habitations  ;    and 
\  veresk,  where  he  was  followed  by  a  great  \  that  because  you  have  not  known,  nor  will 
j  concourse  of  people.     He  preached  also  in  \  know,  the  time  of  your  visitation." 
divers  other  places,  the  people  much  flock-  \      This  prediction  was,  in  a  great  measure, 
ing  after  him  ;  and  in  all  his  sermons  he  I  accomplished    not   long    after,    when     the 
foretold  the  shortness  of  the  time  he  had  to  <  English  took  Haddington,  made  it  a  garri- 
travel,  and  the  near  approach  of  his  death.  <  son,  and  forced  many  of  the  inhabitants  to 
When  he  came  to  Haddington,  his  audi-  <  fly.     Soon  after  this,  a  dreadful  plague  broke 
tory  began  much  to  decrease,  which  was  <  out  in  the  town,  of  which  such  numbers 
thought  to  happen  through  the  influence  of  <  died,  that  the  place  became  almost  depop- 
the  earl  of  Bothwel,  who  was   moved  to  {  ulated. 

oppose  him  at  the  instigation  of  the  cardi-  I  Cardinal  Beaton,  archbishop  of  St.  An- 
nal.  Soon  after  this,  as  he  was  going  to  j  drew's,  being  informed  that  Mr.  Wishart 
church,  he  received  a  letter  from  the  west  j  was  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Cockburn,  of  Or- 
country  gentlemen,  which  having  read,  he    mistone,  in  East  Lothian,  he  applied  to  the 

<  called  John  Knox,  who  had  diligently  wait- I  regent  to  cause  him  to  be  apprehended; 
\  ed  upon  him  since  his  arrival  at  Lothian  ;  \  with   which,   after  great   persuasion,  and 

<  to    whom  he   said  he   was   weary  of  the  i  much  against  his  will,  he  complied. 

%,  X  * 


>' 


224 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


The  earl  accordingly  went,  with  proper 
attendants,  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Cockburn, 
which  he  beset  about  midnight.     The  laird 
of  the   house   being   greatly  alarmed,  put 
himself  in  a  posture  of  defence,  when  the 
earl  told  him  that  it  was  in  vain  to  resist,  ] 
for  the  governor  and  cardinal  were  within 
a  mile,  with  a  great  power;  but  if  he  would  { 
deliver  Wishart  to  him,  he  would  promise  > 
upon  his  honor,  that  he  should  be  safe,  and  j 
that  the  cardinal  should  not  hurt  him. 

Wishart  said,  "  Open  the  gates,  the  will 


of  God  be  done  ;"  and  Bothwel  coming  in, 


Wishart  said  to  him  :  "  I  praise  my  God,  j 
that  so  honorable  a  man  as  you,  my  lord, 
receive  me  this  night ;  for  I  am  persuaded 
that  for  your  honor's  sake,  you  will  suffer  j 
nothing  to  be  done  to  me  but  by  order  of ', 
law  :  I  less  fear  to  die  openly,  than  secret- 
ly to  be  murdered."     Bothwel  replied,  "  I 
will  not  only  preserve  your  body  from  all 
violence  that  shall  be  intended  against  you 
without  order  of  law  ;  but  I  also  promise  I 
in  the  presence  of  these  gentlemen,  that  \ 
neither  the  governor  nor  cardinal  shall  have  \ 
their  will  of  you  ;  but  I  will  keep  you  in  I 
my  own  house,  till  I  either  set  you  free,  or  I 
restore  you  to  the  same  place  where  I   re-  i 
ceive    you."     Then   said   the   laird,  "My 
lord,  if  you  make  good  your  promise,  which  5 
we  presume   you  will,  we  ourselves    will  j 
not  only  serve  you,  but  we  will  procure  all 
the  professors  in  Lothian  to  do  the  same." 

This  agreement  being  made,  Mr.  Wis- 
hart was  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the 
earl,  who  immediately  conducted  him  to 
Edinburgh.  s 

As  soon  as  the  earl  arrived  at  that  place,  I 
he  was  sent  for  by  the  queen,  who  being  \ 
an  inveterate  enemy  to  Wishart,  prevailed  I 
on  the  earl  (notwithstanding  the  promises  > 
he  had  made)  to  commit  him  a  prisoner  to  I 
the  castle. 

The  cardinal  being  informed  of  Wis- 
hart's  situation,  went  to  Edinburgh,  and 
immediately  caused  him  to  be  removed 
thence  to  the  castle  of  St.  Andrew's. 

The  inveterate  and  persecuting  prelate, 
having  now  got  our  martyr  fully  at  his  own  ', 


disposal,  resolved  to  proceed  immediately 
to  try  him  as  a  heretic  ;  for  which  pur- 
pose he  assembled  the  prelates  at  St.  An- 
drew's church  on  the  27th  of  February, 
1546. 

At  this  meeting  the  archbishop  of  Glas- 
gow gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  application 
should  be  made  to  the  regent,  to  grant  a 
commission  to  some  nobleman  to  try  the 
prisoner,  that  all  the  odium  of  putting 
so  popular  a  man  to  death  might  not  lie  on 
the  clergy. 

To  this  the  cardinal  readily  agreed  ;  but 
upon  sending  to  the  regent,  he  received  the 
following  answer,  that  he  would  do  well 
not  to  precipitate  this  man's  trial,  but  delay 
it  until  his  coming ;  for  as  to  himself,  he 
would  not  consent  to  his  death  before  the 
cause  was  very  well  examined  ;  and  if  the 
cardinal  should  do  otherwise,  he  would 
make  protestation,  that  the  blood  of  this 
man  should  be  required  at  his  hands. 

The  cardinal  was  extremely  chagrined 
at  this  message  from  the  regent ;  however, 
he  determined  to  proceed  in  the  bloody  \ 
business  he  had  undertaken  ;  and  therefore 
sent  the  regent  word,  that  he  had  not  writ- 
ten to  him  about  this  matter,  as  supposing 
himself  to  be  any  way  dependent  upon  his 
authority,  but  from  a  desire  that  the  prose- 
cution and  conviction  of  heretics  might 
have  a  show  of  public  consent ;  which, 
since  he  could  not  this  way  obtain,  he 
would  proceed  in  that  way  which  to  him 
appeared  the  most  proper. 

In  consequence  of  this,  the  cardinal  im- 
mediately proceeded  to  the  trial  of  Wishart, 
against  whom  no  less  than  eighteen  articles 
were  exhibited,  which  in  substance  were 
as  follows  : — 

1.  That  he  had  despised  the  holy 
mother-church,  and  had  deceived  the  peo- 
ple ;  and  that  when  he  was  ordered  to  de- 
sist from  preaching  at  Dundee,  by  the  gov- 
ernor, he  would  not  obey,  but  still  perse- 
vered in  the  same. 

2.  That  he  had  said,  the  priest  standing 
at  the  altar,  and  saying  mass,  was  like  a  fox 
wagging  his  tail. 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


225 


3.  That  he  had  preached  against  the 
sacraments,  saying,  that  there  were  not 
seven,  but  two  only,  viz.,  baptism  and  the 
supper  of  the  Lord. 

4.  That  he  had  taught,  that  auricular 
confession  was  not  a  blessed  sacrament ; 
and  had  said  confession  should  be  made  to 
God  only,  and  not  to  a  priest. 

5.  That  he  had  said  it  was  necessary 
for  every  man  to  know  and  understand  his 
baptism,  contrary  to  the  established  max- 
ims of  the  Roman  catholic  church. 

6.  That  he  had  said  the  sacrament  of  the 
altar  was  but  a  piece  of  bread  baked  upon 
the  ashes  ;  and  the  ceremonies  attending 
it  was  but  a  superstitious  rite,  against  the 
commandment  of  God. 

7.  That  he  had  said  extreme  unction 
was  not  a  sacrament. 

8.  That  holy  water  was  equally  simple 
and  insignificant  as  water  not  consecrated  ; 
and  that  he  had  said  the  curses  of  the  Ro- 
mish clergy  availed  nothing. 

9.  That  he  had  said  every  layman  was 
a  priest ;  and  that  the  pope  had  no  greater 
authority  or  power  than  another  man. 

10.  That  he  had  said  a  man  had  no  free 
will,  but  was  like  the  stoics,  who  said,  that 
it  was  not  in  man's  will  to  do  anything,  but 
that  all  concupiscence  and  desire  came  from 
God,  of  what  kind  soever  it  might  be. 

11.  That  it  was  as  lawful  to  eat  flesh  on 
a  Friday  as  on  a  Sunday. 

12.  That  the  people  should  not  pray  to 
saints,  but  to  God  only. 

13.  That  in  his  preaching  he  had  said 
that  there  was  no  purgatory,  and  that  it  was 
a  false  conception  to  imagine  there  was  any 
such  thing  after  death. 

14.  That  he  had  taught  plainly  against 
the  vows  of  monks,  friars,  nuns,  and  priests  ; 
and  had  said,  that  whoever  was  bound  to 
such  vows,  they  vowed  themselves  to  the 
state  of  damnation.  Moreover,  that  it  was 
lawful  for  priests  to  marry,  and  not  to  live 
single. 

15.  That  he  had  spoken  disrespectfully 
of  the  general  and  provincial  counsels. 

16.  That  he  had  said,  it  was  in  vain  to 
15 


build  costly  churches  to  the  honor  of  God, 
seeing  that  he  remained  not  in  churches 
made  with  men's  hands  ;  nor  yet  could 
God  be  in  so  small  a  space  as  between  the 
priest's  hands. 

17.  That  he  had  despised  fasting,  and 
had  taught  the  people  to  do  the  like. 

18.  That  in  his  preaching  he  had  said 
the  soul  of  man  should  sleep  till  the  last 
day,  and  should  not  obtain  immortal  life 
till  that  time. 

Mr.  Wishart  answered  these  respective 
articles  with  great  composure  of  mind,  and 
in  so  learned  and  clear  a  manner,  as  great- 
ly surprised  most  of  those  who  were  pres- 
ent. 

A  bigoted  priest,  at  the  instigation  of  the 
archbishop,  not  only  heaped  a  load  of  cur- 
ses on  him,  but  also  treated  him  with  the 
most  barbarous  contempt.  He  used  a  lan- 
guage fit  only  for  the  most  complicated  in- 
fidel ;  and,  not  satisfied  with  that,  he  spit 
in  his  face,  and  otherwise  maltreated  him. 

On  this  Mr.  Wishart  fell  on  his  knees, 
and  after  making  a  prayer  to  God,  thus  ad- 
dressed his  judges  : — 

"  Many  and  horrible  sayings  unto  me  a 
Christian  man,  many  words  abominable  to 
hear,  have  ye  spoken  here  this  day  ;  which 
not  only  to  teach,  but  even  to  think,  I  ever 
thought  a  great  abomination." 

After  the  examination  was  finished,  the 
archbishop  endeavored  to  prevail  on  Mr. 
Wishart  to  recant ;  but  he  was  too  firmly 
fixed  in  his  religious  principles,  and  too 
much  enlightened  with  the  truth  of  the  gos- 
pel, to  be  in  the  least  moved. 

In  consequence  of  this,  the  archbishop 
pronounced  on  him  the  dreadful  sentence 
of  death,  which  he  ordered  should  be  put 
into  execution  on  the  following  day. 

As  soon  as  the  archbishop  had  finished 
this  cruel  and  melancholy  ceremony,  our 
martyr  fell  on  his  knees,  and  thus  ex- 
claimed : — 

"  O  immortal  God,  how  long  wilt  thou 
suffer  the  rage,  and  great  cruelty  of  the 
ungodly,  to  exercise  their  fury  upon  thy 
servants,  which  do  further  thy  word  in  this 


226 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


s  world  ?     Whereas  they,  on   the   contrary,  '/  remember   that    Christ   died    for   us,   and 

s  seek    to   destroy  the   truth,  whereby  thou  t  feed  on  it  spiritually."     Then   taking  the 

s  hast  revealed  thyself  to  the  world,  &c.     O  \  cup,  he  drank,  and  bade  them  "  remember 

s  Lord,  we  know  certainly  that  thy  true  ser-  i  that  Christ's  blood  was  shed  for  them,"  &c. 


\  vants  must  needs  suffer,  for  thy  name's  '>  After  this  he  gave  thanks,  prayed  for  some 
!  sake,  persecutions,  afflictions,  and  troubles,  <  time,  took  leave  of  his  visiters,  and  retired 

>  in  this  present  world ;  yet  we  desire,  that  >  to  his  chamber. 

>  thou  wouldst  preserve  and  defend  thy  <  On  the  morning  of  his  execution  there 
■>  church,  which  thou  hast  chosen  before  the  )  came  to  him  two  friars  from  the  cardinal  ; 
I  foundation  of  the  world,  and  give  thy  peo-  •  one  of  whom  put  on  him  a  black  linen  coat, 
|  pie  grace  to  hear  thy  word,  and  to  be  thy  <  and  the  other  brought  several  bags  of  gun- 
5  true  servants  in  this  present  life."  s  powder,  which  they  tied  about  different 
\       Having  said  this,  he  arose,  and  was  im-    parts  of  his  body. 

>  mediately  conducted  by  the  officers  to  the  s  In  this  dress  he  was  conducted  from  the 
\  prison  whence  he  had  been  brought,  in  the  room  in  which  he  had  been  confined,  to  the 
I  in  the  castle.  s  outer  chamber  of  the  governor's  apartments, 
\  In  the  evening  he  was  visited  by  two  >  there  to  stay  till  the  necessary  preparations 
v  friars,  who  asked  him  to  make  his  confes- 1  were  made  for  his  execution. 

sion  to  them  ;  to  whom  he  said,  "  I  will  not  I  The  windows  and  balconies  of  the  cas- 
make  any  confession  to  you  ;"  on  which  >  tie,  opposite  the  place  where  he  was  to  suf- 
they  immediately  departed.  >  fer,  were  all  hung  with  tapestry  and  silk 

Soon  after  this  came  the  sub-prior,  with  I  hangings,  and  with  cushions   for  the   car- 
whom  Wishart  conversed  in  so  feeling  a  >  dinal  and  his  train,  who  were   thence  to  J 
manner  on  religious  matters  as  to  make  him  >  feast  their  eyes  with  the  torments  of  this 
;  weep.     When  he  left  him,  he  went  to  the  5  innocent    man.     There    was   also  a   great 
cardinal,  and  told  him,  he  came  not  to  in- 1  guard  of  soldiers,  not  so  much  to  secure 
tercede    for    Wishart's   life,   but    to    make  5  the  execution,  as  to  show  a  vain  ostentation 
known  his  innocence  to  all  men.     At  these  >  of  power  ;  besides  which,  brass  guns  were  \ 
words,  the  cardinal  expressed  great  dissat- 1  placed  on  different  parts  of  the  castle, 
isfaction,  and  forbid  the  sub-governor  from  >      The  necessary  preparations  being  made,  < 
again  visiting  Wishart.  \  our  martyr,  after  having  his  hands  tied  be-  <■ 

Toward  the  close  of  the  evening,  our  I  hind  him,  was  conducted  to  the  fatal  spot.  < 
martyr  was  visited  by  the  captain  of  the  >  In  his  way  thither,  he  was  accosted  by  two 
castle,  with  several  of  his  friends  ;  who  >  friars,  who  desired  him  to  pray  to  the  Vir-  s 
bringing  with  them  some  bread  and  wine,  >  gin  Mary,  to  intercede  for  him.  To  whom  j 
asked  him  if  he  would  eat  and  drink  with  j  he  meekly' said,  "  Cease;  tempt  me  not,  I  I 
them.     "Yes,"  said  Wishart,  "very  wil-    entreat  you." 

lingly,  for   I   know  you  are  honest  men."        As  soon  as  he  arrived  at  the  stake,  the  \ 
In  the  meantime  he  desired  them  to  hear  |  executioner  put  a  rope  round  his  neck,  and  I 
him  a  little,  when  he  discoursed  with  them    a  chain  about  his  middle  ;  upon  which  he  \ 
on  the  Lord's  supper,  his   sufferings   and  j  fell  on  his  knees,  and  thus  exclaimed  : —     j 
death  for  us,  exhorting  them   to  love  one         "  O  thou  Savior  of  the  world,  have  mer-  I 
another,  and  to  lay  aside   all  rancor  and  <  cy  upon  me!     Father  of  heaven,  I  com-  1 
malice,  as  became  the  members  of  Jesus  j  mend  my  spirit  into  thy  holy  hands." 
Christ,  who  continually  interceded  for  them  <      After  repeating  these  words  three  times 
with  his  Father.     After  this  he  gave  thanks  s  he  arose,  and  turning  himself  to  the  spec- 
{  to  God,  and  blessing  the  bread  and  wine,  j  tators,  addressed  them  as  follows  :  — 
'  he  took  the  bread  and  brake  it,  giving  some  j      "  Christian  brethren  and  sisters  :   I  be- 
|  to  each,  saying,  at  the  same  time,  "Eat  this,  j  seech  you  be  not  offended  at  the  word  of 

ffv 


THE    CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


227   \ 


God  for  the  torments  which  you  see  pre- 
pared for  me  ;  but  I  exhort  you,  that  ye 
love  the  word  of  God  for  your  salvation, 
and  suffer  patiently,  and  with  a  comforta- 
ble heart,  for  the  word's  sake,  which  is 
your  undoubted  salvation,  and  everlasting 
comfort.  I  pray  you  also,  show  my  breth- 
ren and  sisters,  who  have  often  heard  me, 
that  they  cease  not  to  learn  the  word  of  God, 
which  I  taught  them  according  to  the  meas- 
ure of  grace  given  me,  but  to  hold  fast  to 
it  with  the  strictest  attention  ;  and  show 
them,  that  the  doctrine  was  no  old  wives' 
fables,  but  the  truth  of  God  ;  for  if  I  had 
taught  men's  doctrine,  I  should  have  had 
greater  thanks  from  men  :  but  for  the  word 
of  God's  sake,  I  now  suffer,  not  sorrowful- 
ly, but  with  a  glad  heart  and  mind.  For 
this  cause  I  was  sent,  that  I  should  suffer 
this  fire  for  Christ's  sake  ;  behold  my  face, 
you  shall  not  see  me  change  my  counten- 
ance :  I  fear  not  the  tire  ;  and  if  persecu- 
tion come  to  you  for  the  word's  sake,  I 
pray  you  '  fear  not  them  that  can  kill  the 
body,  and  have  no  power  over  the  soul.'  " 

After  this  he  prayed  for  his  accusers, 
saying  :  "  I  beseech  thee,  Father  of  heaven, 
forgive  them  that  have,  from  ignorance,  or 
an  evil  mind,  forged  lies  of  me  :  I  forgive 
them  with  all  my  heart.  I  beseech  Christ 
to  forgive  them,  that  have  ignorantly  con- 
demned me." 

Then,  again  turning  himself  to  the  spec- 
tators, he  said :  "  I  beseech  you,  brethren, 
exhort  your  prelates  to  learn  the  word  of 
God,  that  they  may  be  ashamed  to  do  evil, 
and  learn  to  do  good  ;  or  also  there  will 
shortly  come  upon  them  the  wrath  of  God, 
which  they  shall  not  eschew." 

As  soon  as  he  had  finished  this  speech, 
the  executioner  fell  on  his  knees  before 
him,  and  said,  "  Sir,  I  pray  you  forgive  me, 
for  I  am  not  the  cause  of  your  death." 

In  return  to  this,  Wishart  cordially  took 
the  man  by  the  hand,  and  kissed  him,  say- 
ing, "  Lo,  here  is  a  token  that  I  forgive 
thee  :  my  heart,  do  thine  office." 

He  was  then  fastened  to  the  stake,  and 
the  fagots  being  lighted,  immediately  set 


fire  to  the  powder  that  was  tied  about  him, 
and  which  blew  into  a  flame  and  smoke. 

The  governor  of  the  castle,  who  stood 
so  near  that  he  was  singed  with  the  flame, 
exhorted  our  martyr  in  a  few  words,  to  be 
of  good  cheer,  and  to  ask  pardon  of  God 
for  his  offences.  To  which  he  replied  : 
"  This  flame  occasions  trouble  to  my  body, 
indeed,  but  it  hath  in  no  wise  broken  my 
spirit.  But  he  who  now  so  proudly  looks 
down  upon  me  from  yonder  lofty  place," 
pointing  to  the  cardinal,  "  shall,  ere  long, 
be  as  ignominiously  thrown  down,  as  now 
he  proudly  lolls  at  his  ease." 

When  he  had  said  this,  the  executioner 
pulled  the  rope  which  was  tied  about  his 
neck  with  great  violence,  so  that  he  was 
soon  strangled ;  and  the  fire  getting  strength, 
burnt  with  such  rapidity  that  in  less  than 
an  hour  his  body  was  totally  consumed. 

Thus  died,  in  confirmation  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  a  sincere  believer,  whose  forti- 
tude and  constancy  during  his  sufferings, 
can  only  be  imputed  to  the  support  of  di- 
vine aid,  in  order  to  fulfil  that  memorable 
promise,  "  As  is  thy  day,  so  shall  thy 
strength  be  also." 

The  prediction  of  Mr.  Wishart,  concern- 
ing Cardinal  Beaton,  is  related  by  that 
great  historian,  Buchanan,  as  also  by  Arch- 
bishop Spotwood,  and  others  ;  but  it  has 
been  doubted,  by  some  later  writers,  wheth- 
er he  really  made  such  prediction  or  not. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  however,  it  is  certain 
that  the  death  of  Wishart  did,  in  a  short 
time  after,  prove  fatal  to  the  cardinal  him- 
self;  the  particulars  of  which  it  may  not 
be  improper  here  to  subjoin. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wishart, 
the  cardinal  went  to  Finhaven,  the  seat  of 
the  earl  of  Crawford,  to  solemnize  a  mar- 
riage between  the  eldest  son  of  that  noble- 
man, and  his  own  natural  daughter,  Mar- 
garet. While  he  was  thus  employed,  he 
received  intelligence  that  an  English  squad- 
ron was  upon  the  coast,  and  that  conse- 
quently an  invasion  was  to  be  feared.  Up- 
on this  he  immediately  returned  to  St.  An- 
drew's, and  appointed  a  day  for  the  nobility 


228 


a 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


and  gentry  to  meet,  and  consult  what  was 
proper  to  be  done  on  this  occasion.  But 
as  no  further  news  was  heard  of  the  Eng- 
lish fleet,  their  apprehensions  of  an  inva- 
sion soon  subsided. 

In  the  meantime,  Norman  Lesley,  eldest 
son  of  the  earl  of  Rothes,  who  had  been 
treated  by  the  cardinal  with  injustice  and 
contempt,  formed  a  design,  in  conjunction 
with  his  uncle  John  Lesley,  who  hated 
Beaton,  and  others  who  were  inflamed 
against  him  on  account  of  his  persecution 
of  the  protestants,  the  death  of  Wishart, 
and  other  causes,  to  assassinate  the  prelate, 
though  he  now  resided  in  the  castle  of  St. 
Andrew's,  which  he  was  fortifying  at  great 
expense,  and  had,  in  the  opinion  of  that 
age,  already  rendered  it  almost  impregna- 
ble. The  cardinal's  retinue  was  numerous, 
the  town  was  at  his  devotion,  and  the 
neighboring  country  full  of  his  dependants. 
However,  the  conspirators,  who  were  in 
number  only  sixteen,  having  concerted  their 
plan,  met  together  early  in  the  morning,  on 
Saturday  the  29th  of  May.  The  first 
thing  they  did,  was  to  seize  the  porter  of 
the  castle,  from  whom  they  took  the  keys, 
and  secured  the  gate.  They  then  sent  four 
of  their  party  to  watch  the  cardinal's  cham- 
ber, that  he  might  have  no  notice  given  him 
of  what  was  doing  ;  after  which,  they  went 
and  called  up  the  servants  and  attendants, 
to  whom  they  were  well  known,  and  turned 
them  to  the  number  of  fifty,  out  of  the  gate, 
as  they  did  also  upward  of  a  hundred 
workmen,  who  were  employed  in  the  forti- 
fications and  buildings  of  the  castle ;  but 
the  eldest  son  of  the  regent,  who  lodged 
also  in  the  castle,  they  kept  for  their  own 
security. 

All  this  was  done  with  so  little  noise, 
that  the  cardinal  was  not  waked  till  they 
knocked  at  his  chamber  door  ;  upon  which 
he  cried  out,  "  Who  is  there  ?"  John  Les- 
ley answered,  "  My  name  is  Lesley." 
"Which  Lesley?"  replied  the  cardinal; 
"  Is  it  Norman  ?"  It  was  answered  that 
he  must  open  the  door  to  those  who  were 
there  ;    but  instead  of  this  he  barricaded 


the  door  in  the  best  manner  he  could. 
However,  finding  that  they  had  brought  fire 
in  order  to  force  their  way,  and  they  having, 
as  it  is  said  by  some,  made  him  a  promise 
of  his  life,  he  opened  the  door.  They  im- 
mediately entered  with  their  swords  drawn, 
and  John  Lesley  smote  him  twice  or  thrice, 
as  did  also  Peter  Carmichael  ;  but  James 
Melvil  (as  Mr.  Knox  relates  the  affair), 
perceiving  them  to  be  in  anger,  said,  "  This 
work  and  judgment  of  God,  although  it  be 
secret,  ought  to  be  done  with  greater  grav- 
ity :"  and  presenting  the  point  of  his  sword 
to  the  cardinal,  said  to  him  :  "  Repent  thee 
of  thy  wicked  life,  but  especially  of  the 
shedding  of  the  blood  of  that  notable  in- 
strument of  God,  Mr.  George  Wishart, 
which,  albeit  the  flame  of  fire  consumed 
it  before  men,  yet  cries  for  vengeance  up- 
on thee  ;  and  we  from  God  are  sent  to  re- 
venge it.  For  here,  before  my  God,  I  pro- 
test, that  neither  the  hatred  of  thy  person, 
the  love  of  thy  riches,  nor  the  fear  of  any 
trouble  thou  couldst  have  done  to  me  in 
particular,  moved  or  moveth  me  to  strike 
thee  ;  but  only  because  thou  hast  been,  and 
remainest,  an  obstinate  enemy  of  Ghrist 
Jesus,  and  his  holy  gospel."  Having  said 
this,  he  with  his  sword  run  the  cardinal 
twice  or  thrice  through  the  body ;  who  on- 
ly said,  "I  am  a  priest!  Fy  !  Fy  !  all  is 
gone  !"  and  then  expired,  being  about  fifty- 
two  years  of  age. 

Thus  fell  Cardinal  Beaton,  who  had 
been  as  great  a  persecutor  against  the  prot- 
estants in  Scotland,  as  Bonner  was  in  Eng- 
land ;  and  whose  death  was  as  little  re- 
gretted by  all  true  professors  of  Christ's 
gospel. 

The  character  of  this  distinguished  ty- 
rant, is  thus  given  by  a  celebrated  writer  : — 

"  Cardinal  Beaton,"  says  he,  "  had  not 
used  his  power  with  moderation  equal  to 
the  prudence  by  which  he  obtained  it. 
Notwithstanding  his  great  abilities,  he 
had  too  many  of  the  passions  and  prejudi- 
ces of  an  angry  leader  of  a  faction,  to  gov- 
ern a  divided  people  with  temper.  His  re- 
sentment against  one  part  of  the  nobility, 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


'i-::> 


his  insolence  toward  the  rest,  his  severity  I  and  of  primitive  sanctity,  wore  out  the  pa- 
to  the  reformers,  and  above  all,  the  barba- 1  tience  of  a  fierce  age ;  and  nothing  but  ;i 
rous  and  illegal  execution  of  the  famous  j  bold  hand  was  wanting,  to  gratify  the  pub- 
George  Wishart,  a  man  of  honorable  birth,  \  lie  wish  by  his  destruction." 


PERSECUTIONS  OF  PROTESTANTS  IN  IRELAND, 

DURING  THE  IRISH  MASSACRE. 


HOUGH   the   various  at- 
tempts made  by  the  Irish 
against  the  English  usu- 
ally go  under  the  name  of 
rebellion,  yet    they  de- 
serve more  properly  the 
epithet,  persecution,  as  all  their  destructive 
efforts  were  particularly  levelled  at  the  prot- 
estants  only,  whom  they  were  determined, 
if  possible,  totally  to   extirpate    from   the 
kingdom.     They  had,  indeed,  hitherto  mis- 
carried ;  but  they  at  length  hit  upon  a  proj- 
ect that  succeeded  to  their  wishes,  and  pro- 
duced  a   catastrophe   that   will   remain  in 
characters  of  blood  to  the  latest  posterity. 
That  the  Romish  clergy  of  Ireland  were 
the  principal  fomenters  of  the  rebellions  in 
that  kingdom,  is  evident  from  their  treach- 
erous and  disloyal  behavior  under  Queen  I 
Elizabeth  and  King  James  I.,  they  contin-  < 
ually  urging  to  the  people  the  lawfulness  \ 
of  killing  all    protestants,  who   supported  \ 
the  right  of  the  crown  of  England  to  Ire-  ? 
land  ;  and  assuring  them   that   all  papists  \ 
who  should  die  fighting  against  the  protes-  \ 
tants,  would  go  immediately  to  heaven.        \ 
These  Irish  ecclesiastics,  under  Charles  ) 
I.  were  greatly  increased  by  titular  Romish  \ 
archbishops,  bishops,  deans,  vicars-general,  5 
abbots,  priests,  and  friars  ;  for  which  rea-  > 
son,  in  1629,  the  public  exercise  of  the  po-  \ 
pish  rites  and  ceremonies  was  forbidden.     \ 
But  notwithstanding  this,  soon  after  the  I 
Romish  clergy  erected  a  new  popish  uni- 
versity in  the  city  of  Dublin.     They  also 
proceeded  to  build   monasteries   and  nun- 
neries in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom  ;  in 
which  places   these  very  Romish  clergy, 
and  the  chiefs  of  the  Irish,  held  frequent 


meetings ;  and  thence  used  to  pass  to  and  ; 
fro,  to  France,  Spain,  Flanders,  Lorraine,  < 
and  Rome;  where  the  detestable  plot  of  ; 
1641  was  hatching  by  the  family  of  the  ; 
O'Neals,  and  their  followers. 

A  short  time  before  the  horrid  conspira-  ; 
cy  broke  out,  which  we  are  now  going  to  ; 
relate,  the  papists  of  Ireland  had  presented  ; 
a  remonstrance  to  the  lords-justices  of  that  ; 
kingdom,  demanding  the  free  exercise  of  \ 
their  religion,  and  a  repeal  of  all  laws  to  • 
the  contrary  ;  to  which  both  houses  of  par-  < 
liament  in  England  solemnly  answered,  < 
that  they  would  never  grant  any  toleration  J 
to  the  popish  religion  in  that  kingdom. 

This  further  irritated  the  papists  to  put  i 
in  execution  the  diabolical  plot,  concerted  < 
for  the  destruction  of  the  protestants  ;  and  < 
it  failed  not  of  the  success  wished  for  by  { 
its  malicious  and  rancorous  projectors. 

The   design   of  this   horrid    conspiracy 
was,  that  a  general  insurrection  should  take  j 
place  at  the  same  time  throughout  the  king-  \ 
dom  ;  and  that  all  the  protestants,  without  \ 
exception,  should  be  murdered.     The  day  j 
fixed  for  this  horrid  massacre,  was  the  23d  j 
of   October,   1641,    the    feast    of   Ignatius 
Loyola,  founder  of  the   Jesuits  ;    and  the 
chief  conspirators,  in  the  principal  parts  of  ! 
the  kingdom,  made  the  necessary  prepara-  ] 
tions  for  the  intended  conflict. 

In  order  that  this  detested  scheme  might  ( 
the  more  infallibly  succeed,  the  most  dis-  j 
tinguished  artifices  were  practised  by  the  < 
papists  ;  and  their  behavior,  in  their  visits  < 
to  the  protestants  at  this  time,  was  with  s 
more  seeming  kindness  than  they  had  hith-  I 
erto  shown,  which  was  done  the  more  com-  <, 
pletely  to  effect  the  inhuman  and  treacher-  s 

.a 


|  230 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


j  ous  designs  then  meditating  against  them.  J  first  assault  :    destruction  was  everywhere  j 

\  The  execution  of  this   savage   conspiracy  >  let  loose,  and  met  the  hundred  victims  at  \ 

i  was  delayed  till   the  approach  of  winter,  j  every  turn.     In  vain  was  recourse  had  to  re-  i 

that  the  sending  troops  from  England  might  <  lations,  to  companions,  to  friends  :   all  con-  > 

be  attended  with  greater  difficulty.     Cardi-  <;  nexions  were  dissolved,  and  death  was  dealt  > 

rial    Richelieu,  the    French    minister,  had  I  by  that  hand,  from  which  protection  was  \ 

promised   the   conspirators  a  #3itsiderable  <  implored  and  expected.     Without  provoca-  > 

supply    of   men    and    money  ;    and    many  <  tion,    without    opposition,    the    astonished  \ 

Irish  officers  had  given  the  strongest  as-  \  English,  living  in  profound  peace,  and,  as  '/ 

':  surances,  that  they  would  heartily  concur  \  they  thought,  full  security,  were  massacred  > 

>  with  their  catholic  brethren,  as  soon  as  the  I  by  their  nearest  neighbors,  with  whom  they  I 
'<  insurrection  appeared.  \  had  long  maintained  a  continued  intercourse  > 

The  day  preceding  that  appointed  for  \  of  kindness  and  good  offices.  Nay,  even  \ 
I  carrying  this  horrid  design  into  execution  >  death  was  the  slightest  punishment  inflicted  ? 
\  was  now  arrived,  when,  happily  for  the  by  these  monsters  in  human  form  :  all  the  \ 
£  metropolis  of  the  kingdom,  the  conspiracy  \  tortures  which  wanton  cruelly  could  invent,  i 
\  was  discovered  by  one  Owen  O'Connelly,  \  all  the  lingering  pains  of  body,  the  anguish  \ 
}  an  Irishman,  for  which  most  signal  service  >  of  mind,  the  agonies  of  despair,  could  not  \ 
\  the  English  parliament  voted  him  500Z.  >  satiate  revenge  excited  without  injury,  and  \ 
i  and  a  pension  of  200/.  during  his  life.  >  cruelly  derived  from  no   cause    whatever.  < 

So   very  seasonably   was  this  plot  dis-  \  Depraved  nature,  even  perverted  religion,  \ 

>  covered,  even  but  a  few  hours  before  the  >  though  encouraged  by  the  utmost  license,  <, 
t  city  and  castle  of  Dublin  were  to  have  \  can  not  reach  to  a  greater  pitch  of  ferocity  \ 
\  been  surprised,  that  the  lords-justices  had  <;  than  appeared  in  these  merciless  barbarians.  \ 
\  but  just  time   to  put   themselves,  and  the  ^  Even  the  weaker  sex  themselves,  naturally  \ 

<  city,  in  a  proper  posture  of  defence.  The  \  tender  to  their  own  sufferings,  and  com-  ', 
\  Lord  M'Guire,  who  was  the  principal  leader  \  passionate  to  those  of  others,  here  emulated  > 
'<  here,  with  his  accomplices,  were  seized  i  their  robust  companions  in  the  practice  of  > 
',  the  same  evening  in  the  city  ;  and  in  their  i  every  cruelty.  The  very  children,  taught  , 
\  lodgings  were  found  swords,  hatchets,  pole- 1  by  example,   and    encouraged   by  the  ex-  j 

>  axes,  hammers,  and  such  other  instruments  <;  hortation  of  their  parents,  dealt  their  feeble  / 
|  of  death  as  had  been  prepared  for  the  de-  >  blows  on  the  dead  carcases  of  defenceless  '< 

>  struction  and  extirpation  of  the  protestants  \  children  of  the  English.  '/ 
;  in  that  part  of  the  kingdom.                             \      Nor  was  the  avarice  of  the  Irish  suffi-  \ 

Thus  was  the  metropolis  happily  pre-  \  cient  to  produce  the  least  restraint  on  their  j 
\  served;  but  the  bloody  part  of  the  intended  cruelty.  Such  was  their  phiensy,  that  the  ( 
I  tragedy  was  past  prevention.  The  con- <  cattle  they  had  seized,  and  by  rapine  had  ] 
;  spirators  were  in  arms  all  over  the  king- <  made  their  own,  were,  because  they  bore 
;  dom  early  in  the  morning  of  the  day  ap- 1  the  name  of  English,  wantonly  slaughtered, 

<  pointed,  and  every  protestant  who  fell  in  \  or,  when  covered  with  wounds,  turned  loose 
I  their  way  was  immediately  murdered.     No  >  into  the  woods,  there  to  perish  by  slow  and 


j  age,  no  sex,  no  condition,  was  spared.    The  <  lingering  torments. 

I  wife  weeping  for  her  butchered  husband,  <  The  commodious  habitations  of  the  plant- 
;  and  embracing  her  helpless  children,  was  <  ers  were  laid  in  ashes,  or  levelled  with  the 
i  pierced  with  them,  and  perished  by  the  <  ground.  And  where  the  wretched  owners 
\  same  stroke.  The  old,  the  young,  the  \  had  shut  themselves  up  in  the  houses,  and 
I  vigorous,  and  the  infirm,  underwent  the  5  were  preparing  for  defence,  they  perished 
|  same  fate,  and  were  blended  in  one  com-  £  in  the  flames,  together  with  their  wives  and 
]  mon  ruin.  In  vain  did  flight  save  from  the  \  children. 
■ 


R" 


THE    CHRISTIAN    MARTYROLOGY. 


231 


Such  is  the  general  description  of  this  $  some  papists  were  merry  over  their  cups, 
unparalleled  massacre  ;  but  it  now  remains,  \  who  were  come  to  congratulate  their  wick- 
from  the  nature  of  our  work,  that  we  pro- j  ed  brethren  for  their  victory  over  these  un- 
ceed  to  particulars.  <  happy  creatures,  those  protestants  who  sur- 

The  bigoted  and  merciless  papists  had  l  vived  were  brought  forth  by  the  White- 
no  sooner  began  to  embrue  their  hands  in  <  friars,  and  were  either  killed,  or  precipita- 
blood,  than  they  repeated  the  horrid  trage-  \  ted  over  the  bridge  into  a  swift  water,  where 
dy  day  after  day;  and  the  protestants  in  <  they  were  soon  destroyed.  It  is  added, 
all  parts  of  the  kingdom  fell  victims  to  their  { that  this  wicked  company  of  Whitefriars 
fury  by  deaths  of  the  most  unheard-of  na-  I  went  some  time  after,  in  solemn  proces- 
ture.  s  sion,  with   holy  water   in  their  hands,  to 

The  ignorant  Irish  were  more  strongly  \  sprinkle  the  river  ;  on  pretence  of  cleans- 
instigated  to  execute  the  infernal  business  \  ing  and  purifying  it  from  the  stains  and 
by  the  Jesuits,  priests,  and  friars,  who,  when  pollution  of  the  blood  and  dead  bodies  of 
the  day  for  the  execution  of  the  plot  was  \  the  heretics,  as  they  called  the  unfortunate 
agreed  on,  recommended,  in  their  prayers,  >  protestants  who  were  inhumanly  slaughter- 
diligence  in  the  great  design,  which  they  I  ed  at  this  very  time. 

said  would  greatly  tend  to  the  prosperity  i  At  Kilmore,  Dr.  Bedell,  bishop  of  that 
of  the  kingdom,  and  to  the  advancement  I  see,  had  charitably  settled  and  supported  a 
of  the  catholic  cause.  They  everywhere  s  great  number  of  distressed  protestants,  who 
declared  to  the  common  people,  that  the  ;>  had  fled  from  their  habitations  to  escape 
protestants  were  heretics,  and  ought  not  to  <  the  diabolical  cruelties  committed  by  the 
be  suffered  to  live  any  longer  among  them  ;  >  papists.  But  they  did  not  long  enjoy  the 
adding,  that  it  was  no  more  sin  to  kill  an  >  consolation  of  living  together  ;  the  good 
Englishman  than  to  kill  a  dog  ;  and  that )  prelate  was  forcibly  dragged  from  his  epis- 
the  relieving  or  protecting  them  was  a  >  copal  residence,  which  was  immediately 
crime  of  the  most  unpardonable  nature.        I  occupied  by  Dr.  Swiney,  the  popish  titular 

The  papists  having  besieged  the  town  >  bishop  of  Kilmore,  who  said  mass  in  the 
and  castle  of  Longford,  and  the  inhabitants  >  church  the  Sunday  following,  and  then 
of  the  latter,  who  were  protestants,  sur-  ,  seized  on  all  the  goods  and  effects  belong- 
rendering  on  condition  of  being  allowed  5  ing  to  the  persecuted  bishop, 
quarter,  the  besiegers,  the  instant  the  towns- >  Soon  after  this  the  papists  forced  Dr. 
people  appeared,  attacked  them  in  the  most  '>  Bedell,  his  two  sons,  and  the  rest  of  his 
unmerciful  manner,  their  priest,  as  a  signal  \  family,  with  some  of  the  chief  of  the  prot- 
for  the  rest  to  fall  on,  first  ripping  open  the  >  estants  whom  he  had  protected,  into  a  ruin- 
belly  of  the  English  protestant  minister  ;  <  ous  castle,  called  Lochwater,  situated  in  a 
after  which  his  followers  murdered  all  the  lake  near  the  sea.  Here  he  remained  with 
rest,  some  of  whom  they  hung,  others  were  his  companions  some  weeks,  all  of  them 
stabbed  or  shot,  and  great  numbers  knock-  daily  expecting  to  be  put  to  death.  The 
ed  on  the  head  with  axes  provided  for  the  greatest  part  of  them  were  stripped  naked, 
purpose.  by  which  means,  as  the  season  was  cold 

The  garrison  at  Sligo  was  treated  in  like  (it  being  in  the  month  of  December)  and 
manner  by  O'Connor  Slygah  ;  who,  upon  the  building  in  which  they  were  confined 
the  protestants  quitting  their  holds,  prom-  open  at  the  top,  they  suffered  the  most  se- 
ised them  quarter,  and  to  convey  them  safe    vere  hardships. 

over  the  Curlew  mountains,  to  Roscom-  \  They  continued  in  this  situation  till  the 
mon.  But  he  first  imprisoned  them  in  a  j  7th  of  January,  when  they  were  all  re- 
most  loathsome  jail  ;  allowing  them  only  leased.  The  bishop  was  courteously  re- 
grains    for   their  food.     Afterward,    when  1  reived  into  the  house  of  Dennis  O'Sheridan, 


]  232 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


f  one  of  his  clergy,  whom  he  had  made  a 

s  convert  to  the  church  of  England  ;   but  he 

)  did  not  long  survive  this  kindness. 

\       During  his  residence  here,  he  spent  the 
)  ....  .  . 

;  whole   of  his   time  in  religious  exercises, 

■s  the  better  to  fit   and   prepare  himself,  and 

\  his   sorrowful   companions,  for  their  great 

<  change,  as  nothing  but  certain  death  was 

perpetually  before  their  eyes. 

He  was  at  this  time  in  the  71st  year  of 

his  age,  and  being  afflicted  with  a  violent 

ague  caught  in  his  late  cold  and  desolate 

habitation  on  the  lake,  it  soon  threw  him 

>  into  a  fever  of  the  most  dangerous  nature. 
\  Finding  his  dissolution  at  hand,  he  received 

>  it  with  joy,  like  one  of  the  primitive  martyrs 
I  just  hastening  to  his  crown  of  glory.  After 
\  having  addressed  his  little  flock,  and  ex- 
horted them  to  patience,  in  the  most  pathet- 
ic manner,  as  they  saw  their  own  last  day 
approaching  ;  after  having  solemnly  bless- 
ed his  people,  his  family  and  his  children, 
he  finished  the  course  of  his  ministry  and 
life  together,  on  the  7th  of  February,  1642. 

His  friends  and  relations  applied  to  the 

intruding  bishop,   for  leave   to  bury  him, 

which  was  with  difficulty  obtained  ;  he,  at 

first,  telling  them,  that  the  church-yard  was 

holy  ground,  and  should  be  no  longer  de- 

i  filed   with  heretics  :  however,  leave  was, 

at    last    granted,   and    though    the    church 

.  funeral  service  was  not  used  at  the  solemni- 

£  ty  (for  fear  of  the  Irish  papists),  yet  some 

$  of  the   better  sort,   who  had   the   highest 

;  veneration  for  him  when   living,  attended 

\  his  remains   to  the   grave.     At  his   inter- 

\  ment,   they   discharged  a   volley   of   shot, 

\  crying  out,  "  Requiescat   in  pace,  ullimus 

)  Anglorum  :"  that  is,  "  May  the  last  of  the 

\  English  rest  in  peace."     Adding,  that  as 

he  was  one  of  the  best,  so  he   should    be 

\  the  last  English  bishop  found  among  them. 

His  learning  was  very  extensive;   and 

]  he  would  have  given  the   world  a  greater 

\  proof  of  it,  had  he  printed  all  he  wrote. 

>  Scarce  any  of  his  writings  were  saved  ; 
s  the  papists  having  destroyed  most  of  his 
\  papers,  and  his  library. 

He  had  gathered  a  vast  heap  of  critical 
B 


expositions  of  scripture,  all  which,  with  a 
great  trunk  full  of  his  manuscripts,  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Irish.  Happily  his  great 
Hebrew  MS.  was  preserved,  and  is  now 
in  the  library  of  Emmanuel  College,  Oxford. 

In  the  barony  of  Terawley,  the  papists, 
at  the  instigation  of  their  friars,  compelled 
above  forty  English  protestants,  some  of 
whom  were  women  and  children,  to  the 
hard  fate  either  of  falling  by  the  sword, 
or  of  drowning  themselves  in  the  sea. 
These  choosing  the  latter,  were  accordingly 
forced,  by  the  naked  weapons  of  their  in- 
exorable persecutors,  into  the  deep,  where, 
with  their  children  in  their  arms,  they  first 
waded  up  to  their  chins,  and  afterward  sunk 
down  and  perished  together. 

In  the  castle  of  Lisgool  upward  of  150 
men,  women,  and  children,  were  all  burnt 
together ;  and  at  the  castle  of  Moneah  not 
less  than  100  were  all  put  to  the  sword. 
Great  numbers  were  also  murdered  at  the 
castle  of  Tullah,  which  was  delivered  up 
to  M'Guire  on  condition  of  having  fair 
quarter  ;  but  no  sooner  had  that  base  villain 
got  possession  of  the  place,  than  he  order- 
ed his  followers  to  murder  the  people, 
which  was  immediately  done  with  the  great- 
est cruelty. 

Many  others  were  put  to  deaths  of  the 
most  horrid  nature,  and  such  as  could  have 
been  invented  only  by  demons  instead  of 
men. 

Some  of  them  were  laid  with  the  centre 
of  their  backs  on  the  axle-tree  of  a  car- 
riage, with  their  legs  resting  on  the  ground 
on  one  side,  and  their  arms  and  head  on 
the  other.  In  this  position  one  of  the  sar- 
ages  scourged  the  wretched  object  on  the 
thighs,  legs,  &c,  while  another  set  on  fu- 
rious dogs,  who  tore  to  pieces  the  arms 
and  upper  parts  of  the  body  ;  and  in  this 
dreadful  manner  were  they  deprived  of  their 
existence.  Great  numbers  were  fastened 
to  horses'  tails,  and  the  beasts  being  set  on 
full  gallop  by  their  riders,  the  wretched  vic- 
tims were  dragged  along  till  they  expired. 

Others  were  hung  on  lofty  gibbets,  and 
a  fire  being  kindled  under  them,  they  fin- 


SCENES    IX    THE    IRISH    MASSACRE. Pa<*e  233. 


ft 


■ 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


235 


islied  their  lives,  partly  by  hanging,  and  5  such  as  attempted  to  reach  the  shore  were  ! 
partly  by  suffocation. 

Nor  did  the  more  tender  sex  escape  the 


knocked  on  the  head. 

In  the  same  part  of  the  country,  at  least  \ 


least  particle  of  cruelty  that  could  be  pro-  \  four  thousand  persons  were  drowned  in 
jected  by  their  merciless  and  furious  perse-  ?  different  places.  The  inhuman  papists,  af- 
cutors.  Many  women,  of  all  ages,  were  \  ter  first  stripping  them,  drove  them  like 
put  to  deaths  of  the  most  cruel  nature.  ?  beasts  to  the  spot  fixed  on  for  their  destruc- 
Some  in  particular  were  fastened  with  their  \  tion  ;  and  if  any,  through  fatigue,  or  natu- 
backs  to  strong  posts,  and  being  stripped  \  ral  infirmities,  were  slack  in  their  pace,  they 
to  their  waists,  the  inhuman  monsters  cut  \  pricked  them  with  their  swords  and  pikes  ; 
off  their  right  breasts  with  shears,  which,  \  and  to  strike  a  further  terror  on  the  multi- 
of  course,  put  them  to  the  most  excrucia-  \  tude,  they  murdered  some  by  the  way. 
ting  torments;  and  in  this  position  they  \  Many  of  these  poor  wretches,  when  thrown 
were  left,  till,  from  loss  of  blood,  they  ex-  \  into  the  water,  endeavored  to  save  them- 


/  pired. 


selves  by  swimming  to  the  shore  ;  but  their 


Such  was  the  savage  ferocity  of  these  \  merciless  persecutors  prevented  their  en- 
<  barbarians,  that  even  unborn  infants  were  ?  deavors  taking  effect,  by  shooting  them  in 
I  dragged  from  the  womb  to  become  victims  \  the  water. 

;  to  their  rage.  Many  unhappy  mothers,  \  In  one  place  one  hundred  and  forty  Eng- 
|  who  were  near  the  time  of  their  delivery,  j  lish,  after  being  driven  for  many  miles 
J  were  hung  naked  on  the  branches  of  trees,  1  stark  naked,  and  in  the  most  severe  weath- 
$  and  their  bodies  being  cut  open,  the  inno- 1  er,  were  all  murdered  on  the  same  spot, 
i  cent  offsprings  were  taken  from  them,  and  <  some  being  hanged,  others  burnt,  some  shot, 
>  thrown  to  dogs  and  swine.  And  to  in-  <  and  many  of  them  buried  alive  ;  and  so 
crease  the  horrid  scene,  they  would  oblige  $  cruel  were  their  tormenters,  that  they  would 
the   husband   to   be  a  spectator  before  he  s  not  suffer  them  to  pray,  before  they  robbed 

them  of  their  miserable  existence. 

Other  companies  they  took   under  pre- 


suffered  himself.     (See  engravings.) 

At  the  town  of  Lissenskeath  they  hanged 
above  one  hundred  Scottish  protestants,  \  tence  of  safe-conduct,  who,  from  that  con- 
showing  them  no  more  mercy  than  they  did  I  sideration,  proceeded  cheerfully  on  their 
to  the  English.  \  journey  ;  but  when  the  treacherous  papists 

M'Guire  going  to  the  castle  of  that  town,  >  had  got  them  to  a  convenient  spot,  they 

butchered  them  all  in  the  most  cruel  man- 
ner. 

One  hundred  and  fifteen  men,  women, 
and  children,  were  conducted,  by  order  of 
Sir  Phelim  O'Neal,  to  Portendown  bridge, 


desired  to  speak  with  the  governor,  when 
being  admitted,  he  immediately  burnt  the 
records  of  the  county,  which  were  kept 
there.  He  then  demanded  .£1,000  of  the 
governor,  which  having  received,  he  imme- 
diately compelled  him  to  hear  mass,  and  to  \  where  they  were  all  forced  into  the  river, 
swear   that  he   would  continue   so   to  do.  \  and  drowned.     One  woman,  named  Camp- 


>  And  to  complete  his  horrid  barbarities,  he  )  bell,  finding  no  probability  of  escaping,  sud-  t 
ordered  the  wife  and  children  of  the  gov-  \  denly  clasped  one  of  the  chief  of  the  pa-  > 
ernor  to  be  hung  up  before  his  face  ;  be-  \  pists  in  her  arms,  and  held  him   so   fast,  > 
sides  massacring  at  least  one  hundred  of  I  that  they  were  both  drowned  together, 
the  inhabitants.  j      In  Killoman  they  massacred  forty-eight  j 

Upward  of  one  thousand  men,  women,  \  families,   among   whom    twenty-two   were  £ 
and  children,  were  driven,  in  different  com- 1  burnt   together   in    one   house.     The   rest  l 
panies,  to  Portendown  bridge,  which  was  \  were  either  hanged,  shot,  or  drowned, 
broken  in  the  middle,  and  there  compelled  \      In  Kilmore  the  inhabitants,  which  con-  I 

I  to  throw  themselves  into  the  water ;  and  \  sisted  of  about   two  hundred  families,  all  \ 


K- 


236 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


fell  victims  to  their  rage.  Some  of  them 
they  sat  in  the  stocks  till  they  confessed 
where  their  money  was  ;  after  which  they 
put  them  to  death.  The  whole  county 
was  one  common  scene  of  butchery,  and 
many  thousands  perished,  in  a  short  time, 
by  sword,  famine,  fire,  water,  and  all  other 
the  most  cruel  deaths,  that  rage  and  malice 
could  invent. 

These  bloody  villains  showed  so  much 
favor  to  some  as  to  despatch  them  imme- 
diately ;  but  they  would  by  no  means  suf- 
fe~  them  to  pray.  Others  they  imprisoned 
in  filthy  dungeons,  putting  heavy  bolts  on 
their  legs,  and  keeping  them  there  till  they 
were  starved  to  death. 

At  Casel  they  put  all  the  protestants 
into  a  loathsome  dungeon,  where  they  kept 
them  together,  for  several  weeks,  in  the 
greatest  misery.  At  length  they  were 
released,  when  some  of  them  were  bar- 
barously mangled,  and  left  on  the  high- 
ways to  perish  at  leisure  ;  others  were 
hanged,  and  some  were  buried  in  the 
ground  upright,  with  their  heads  above  the 
earth,  the  papists,  to  increase  their  misery, 
treating  them  with  derision  during  their 
sufferings. 

In  the  county  of  Antrim  they  murdered 
nine  hundred  and  fifty-four  protestants  in 
one  morning  ;  and  afterward  about  twelve 
hundred  more  in  that  county. 

&t  a  town  called  Lisnegary,  they  forced 
twenty-four  protestants  into  a  house,  and 
then  setting  fire  to  it,  burned  them  togeth- 
er, counterfeiting  their  outcries  in  derision 
to  others. 

Among  other  acts  of  cruelty,  they  took 
two  children  belonging  to  an  English- 
woman, and  dashed  out  their  brains  before 
her  face  ;  after  which  they  threw  the  moth- 
er into  a  river,  and  she  was  drowned. 
They  served  many  other  children  in  the 
like  manner,  to  the  great  affliction  of  their 
parents,  and  the  disgrace  of  human  nature. 

In  Kilkenny  all  the  protestants,  without 
exception,  were  put  to  death  ;  and  some 
of  them  in  so  cruel  a  manner,  as,  perhaps, 
was  never  before  thought  of. 


They  beat  an  Englishwoman  with  such 
savage  barbarity,  that  she  had  scarce  a 
whole  bone  left ;  after  which  they  threw 
her  into  a  ditch  ;  but  not  satisfied  with 
this,  they  took  her  child,  a  girl  about  six 
years  of  age,  and  after  ripping  up  its  belly, 
threw  it  to  its  mother,  there  to  languish  till 
it  perished. 

They  forced  one  man  to  go  to  mass, 
after  which  they  ripped  open  his  bodv,  and 
in  that  manner  left  him.  They  sawed 
another  asunder,  cut  the  throat  of  his  wife, 
and  after  having  dashed  out  the  brains  of 
their  child,  an  infant,  threw  it  to  the  swine, 
who  greedily  devoured  it. 

After  committing  these,  and  many  other 
horrid  cruelties,  they  took  the  heads  of 
seven  protestants,  and  among  them  that  of 
a  pious  minister,  all  which  they  fixed  up 
at  the  market  cross.  They  put  a  gag  into 
the  minister's  mouth,  then  slit  his  cheeks 
to  his  ears,  and  laying  a  leaf  of  a  bible 
before  it,  bid  him  preach,  for  his  mouth 
was  wide  enough.  They  did  several  other 
things  by  way  of  derision,  and  expressed 
the  greatest  satisfaction  at  having  thus 
murdered,  and  exposed  the  unhappy  prot- 
estants. 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  the  pleasure 
these  monsters  took  in  exercising  their 
cruelty,  and  to  increase  the  misery  of  those 
who  fell  into  their  hands,  when  they  butch- 
ered them  they  would  say,  "  Your  soul  to 
the  devil." 

One  of  these  miscreants  would  come  into 
a  house  with  his  hands  embrued  in  blood, 
and  boast  that  it  was  English  blood,  and 
that  his  sword  had  pricked  the  white,  skins 
of  the  protestants,  even  to  the  hilts. 

When  any  one  of  them  had  killed  a 
protestant,  others  would  come  and  receive 
a  gratification  in  cutting  and  mangling  the 
body  ;  after  which  they  left  it  exposed  to 
be  devoured  by  dogs  ;  and  when  they  had 
slain  a  number  of  them  they  would  boast, 
that  the  devil  was  beholden  to  them  for 
sending  so  many  souls  to  hell. 

But  it  is  no  wonder  they  should  thus 
treat  the  innocent  Christians,  when   they 


DRAGGING  PROTESTANTS  THROUGH  BOGS  IN  IRELAND. Page  237. 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


239 


hesitated  not  to  commit  blasphemy  against 
God,  and  his  most  holy  word. 

In  one  place  they  burnt  two  protestant 
bibles,  and  then  said  they  had  burnt  hell- 
fire.  In  the  church  at  Powerscourt,  they 
burnt  the  pulpit,  pews,  chests,  and  bibles, 
belonging  to  it. 

They  took  other  bibles,  and  after  wetting 
them  with  dirty  water,  dashed  them  in  the 
faces  of  the  protestants,  saying,  "  We  know 
you  love  a  good  lesson  ;  here  is  an  excel- 
lent one  for  you  ;  come  to-morrow,  and  you 
shall  have  as  good  a  sermon  as  this." 

Some  of  the  protestants  they  dragged  by 
the  hair  of  their  heads  into  the  church, 
where  they  stripped  and  whipped  them  in 
the  most  cruel  manner,  telling  them,  at  the 
same  time,  that  "  if  they  came  to-morrow, 
they  should  hear  the  like  sermon." 

In  Munster  they  put  to  death  several 
ministers  in  the  most  shocking  manner. 
One,  in  particular,  they  stripped  stark  na- 
ked, and  driving  him  before  them,  pricked 
him  with  swords  and  darts  till  he  fell  down 
and  expired. 

In  some  places  they  plucked  out  the  eyes, 
and  cut  oft*  the  hands  of  the  protestants,  and 
in  that  manner  turned  them  into  the  fields, 
there  to  wander  out  a  miserable  existence. 

They  obliged  many  young  men  to  force 
their  aged  parents  to  a  river,  where  they 
were  drowned  :  wives  to  assist  in  hanging 
their  husbands ;  and  mothers  to  cut  the 
throats  of  their  children. 

In  one  place  they  compelled  a  young 
man  to  kill  his  father,  and  then  immediate- 
ly hanged  him.  In  another  they  forced  a 
woman  to  kill  her  husband,  then  obliged 
the  son  to  kill  her,  and  afterward  shot  him 
through  the  head. 

At  a  place  called  Glaslow,  a  popish 
priest,  with  some  others,  prevailed  on  forty 
protestants  to  be  reconciled  to  the  church 
of  Rome.  They  had  no  sooner  done  this, 
than  they  told  them  they  were  in  a  good 
faith,  and  that  they  would  prevent  their  fal- 
ling from  it,  and  turning  heretics,  by  send- 
ing them  out  of  the  world,  which  they  did 
by  immediately  cutting  their  throats. 


In  the  county  of  Tipperary  upward  of 
thirty  protestants,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, fell  into  the  hands  of  the  papists, 
who,  after  stripping  them  naked,  murdered 
them  with  stones,  pole-axes,  swords,  and 
other  weapons. 

In  the  county  of  Mayo,  about  sixty  prot- 
estants, fifteen  of  whom  were  ministers, 
were,  upon  covenant,  to  be  safely  con- 
ducted to  Galway,  by  one  Edmund  Burk 
and  his  soldiers  :  but  that  inhuman  mon- 
ster by  the  way  drew  his  sword,  as  an  in- 
timation of  his  design  to  the  rest,  who  im- 
mediately followed  his  example,  and  mur- 
dered the  whole,  some  of  whom  they 
stabbed,  others  were  run  through  the  body 
with  pikes,  and  several  were  drowned. 

In  Queen's  county,  great  numbers  of  prot- 
estants were  put  to  the  most  shocking 
deaths.  Fifty  or  sixty  were  placed  togeth- 
er in  one  house,  which  being  set  on  fire, 
they  all  perished  in  the  flames. 

Many  were  stripped  naked,  and  being 
fastened  to  horses  by  ropes  placed  round 
their  middles,  were  dragged  through  bogs 
till  they  expired. 

Some  were  hung  by  the  feet  to  tenter- 
hooks driven  into  poles  ;  and  in  that  wretch- 
ed posture  left  till  they  perished. 

Others  were  fastened  to  the  trunk  of  a 
tree,  with  a  branch  at  top.  Over  this 
branch  hung  one  arm,  which  principally 
supported  the  weight  of  the  body  ;  and  one 
of  the  legs  was  turned  up,  and  fastened  to 
the  trunk,  while  the  other  hung  straight.  And 
in  this  dreadful  and  uneasy  posture  did 
they  remain,  as  long  as  life  would  permit, 
pleasing  spectacles  to  their  blood-thirsty 
persecutors.     (See  engraving.) 

At  Clownes  17  men  were  buried  alive  ; 
and  an  Englishman,  his  wife,  five  children, 
and  a  servant  maid,  were  all  hung  together, 
and  afterward  thrown  into  a  ditch. 

They  hung  many  by  the  arms  to  branch- 
es of  trees,  with  a  weight  to  their  feet;  and 
others  by  the  middle,  in  which  postures 
they  left  them  till  they  expired. 

Several  were  hung  on  windmills,  and 
before  they  were  half  dead,  the  barbarians 


240 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


|  cut  them  in  pieces  with  their  swords. 
I  Others,  both  men,  women,  and  children, 
'  they  cut  and  hacked  in  various  parts  of  their 
;  bodies,  and  left  them  wallowing  in  their 
;  blood,  to  perish  where  they  fell.  One  poor 
/  woman  they  hung  on  a  gibbet,  with  her 
I  child,  an  infant  about  a  twelvemonth  old, 
I  the  latter  of  whom  was  hung  by  the  neck 
|  with  the  hair  of  its  mother's  head,  and  in 
i  that  manner  finished  its  short  but  miserable 
\  existence. 

In  the  county  of  Tyrone  no  less  than  300 
I  protestants  were  drowned  in  one  day  ;  and 
;  many  others  were  hanged,  burned,  and 
j  otherwise  put  to  death. 

Dr.  Maxwell,  rector  of  Tyrone,  lived  at 
'■  this  time  near  Armagh,  and  suffered  greatly 
;  from  these  merciless  savages.  This  clergy- 
!  man,  in  his  examination,  taken  upon  oath 
.  before  the  king's  commissioners,  declared, 
;  that  the  Irish  papists  owned  to  him,  that 
|  they  had  destroyed  in  one  place,  at  Glyn- 
;  wood,  12.000  protestants,  in  their  flight 
;  from  the  county  of  Armagh. 

As  the  river  Bann  was  not  fordable,  and 
;  the  bridge  broken  down,  the  Irish  forced 
!  thither,  at  different  times,  a  great  number 
z  of   unarmed,   defenceless   protestants,   and 

>  with  pikes  and  swords  violently  thrust  above 
5  1,000  into  the  river,  where  they  miserably 
'/  perished. 

Nor  did  the  cathedral  of  Armagh  escape 
|  the  fury  of  these  barbarians,  it  being  ma- 
I  liciously  set  on  fire  by  their  leaders,  and 

>  burnt  to  the  ground.  And  to  extirpate,  if 
J  possible,  the  very  race  of  those  unhappy 

protestants,  who  lived  in  or  near  Armagh, 
the  Irish  first  burnt  all  their  houses,  and 
then  gathered  together  many  hundreds  of 
those  innocent  people,  young  and  old,  on 
pretence  of  allowing  them  a  guard  and  safe- 
conduct  to  Coleraine  ;  when  they  treacher- 
ously fell  on  them  by  the  way,  and  inhu- 
manly murdered  them. 

The  like  horrid  barbarities  with  those  we 
have  particularized,  were  practised  on  the 
wretched  protestants  in  almost  all  parts  of 
the  kingdom  ;  and,  when  an  estimate  was 
afterward  made  of  the  number  who  were 


't  sacrificed  to  gratify  the  diabolical  souls  of  \ 
I  the  papists,  it  amounted  to  150,000.  But  j 
'■  it  now  remains  that  we  proceed  to  the  par-  j 
'/ ticulars  that  followed. 

I  These  desperate  wretches,  flushed  and 
'  grown  insolent  with  success  (though  at- 
|  tained  by  methods  attended  with  such  ex- 
'  cessive  barbarities  as  perhaps  are  not  to  be 
$  equalled),  soon  got  possession  of  the  castle 
\  of  Newry,  where  the  king's  stores  and  am- 
\  munition  were  lodged  ;  and,  with  as  little 
i  difficulty,  made  themselves  masters  of  Dun- 
i  dalk.  They  afterward  took  the  town  of 
I  Ardee,  where  they  murdered  all  the  prot- 
s  estants,  and  then  proceeded  to  Drogheda. 
i  The  garrison  of  Drogheda  was  in  no  condi- 

Ition  to  sustain   a    siege  ;    notwithstanding 
which,  as  often  as  the  Irish  renewed  their 
attacks,  they  were  vigorously  repulsed,  by 
>  a  very  unequal  number  of  the  king's  forces, 
I  and  a  few  faithful  protestant  citizens,  under 
>  Sir   Henry  Tichborne,  the    governor,  as-  : 
I  sisted  by  the  lord  viscount  Moore.     The  j 
I  siege  of  Drogheda   began  on  the  30th  of  < 
November,  1641,  and  held  till  the  4th  of  \ 
March,  1642,  when  Sir  Phelim  O'Neal,  and  j 
the  Irish  miscreants  under  him,  were  forced  j 
to  retire. 

In  the  meantime  10,000  troops  were  sent  j 
from  Scotland  to  the  relief  of  the  remaining  j 
protestants  in  Ireland,  which  being  proper-  \ 
ly  divided  into  various  part  of  the  kingdom,  > 
!>  happily  suppressed  the  power  of  the  Irish  i 
i  savages  ;  and  the  protestants,  for  several  j 
years,  lived  in  tranquillity. 

After  James  II.  had  abandoned  England,  * 
he  maintained  a  contest  for  sometime  in  \ 
Ireland,  where  he  did  all  in  his  power  to 
carry  on  that  persecution  which  he  had 
been  happily  prevented  from  persevering 
in,  in  England :  accordingly,  in  a  parlia- 
ment held  at  Dublin,  in  the  year  1689, 
great  numbers  of  the  protestant  nobility,  \ 
clergy,  and  gentry  of  Ireland,  were  attainted  \ 
of  high  treason.  The  government  of  the  \ 
kingdom  was,  at  that  time,  invested  in  the  j 
earl  of  Tyconnel,  a  bigoted  papist,  and  an  j 
inveterate  enemy  to  the  protestants.  By  \ 
his  orders  they  were  again  persecuted  in  j 

8 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


241 


s  various  parts  of  the  kingdom.     The  reve-  -, 
\  nues  of  the   city  of   Dublin  were  seized,  \ 
I  and  most  of  the  churches  converted  into  \ 
■>  prisons.     And  had  it  not  been  for  the  res-  \ 
I  olution  and  uncommon  bravery  of  the  gar-  \ 
>  risons  in  the  city  of  Londonderry,  and  the  I 
I  town  of  Inniskillen,  there  had  not  one  place  \ 
I  remained  for  refuge  to  the  distressed  prot-  s 
I  estants  in  the  whole  kingdom  ;  but  all  must  > 
j  have  been  given  up  to  King  James  and  to  $ 
5  the  furious  popish  party  that  governed  him.  :> 
5       The  remarkable  siege  of   Londonderry  \ 
;   was  opened  on  the  18th  of  April,  16S9,  by  < 
!  20,000  papists,  the  flower  of  the  Irish  ar-  I 
;  my.     The  city  was  not  properly  circum- 
\   stanced  to  sustain  a  siege,  the  defenders 
i  consisting  of  a  body  of  raw  undisciplined 
\  protestants,  who  had  fled  thither  for  shel- 
'  ter,  and  half  a  regiment  of  Lord  Mountjoy's  \ 
'■  disciplined  soldiers,  with  the  principal  part  ^ 
of  the  inhabitants,  making  in  all  only  7,361 
fighting  men.  \ 

The  besieged  hoped,  at  first,  that  their  £ 
|  stores  of  corn,  and  other  necessaries,  would  i 
I  be  sufficient ;  but  by  the  continuance  of  the  \ 
i  siege  their  wants  increased ;  and  these  at  < 
;  last  became  so  heavy,  that,  for  a  consider- 
able time  before  the  siege  was  raised,  a  pint 
s  of  coarse  barley,  a  small  quantity  of  greens, 
'<  a  few  spoonfuls  of  starch,  with  a  very  mod- 
;  erate  portion  of  horse-flesh,  were  reckoned 
a   week's   provision   for  a   soldier.     And 
)  they  were,  at  length,  reduced  to  such  ex- 
\  tremities,  that  they  devoured  dogs,  cats,  and 
I  mice. 

\       Their  miseries  increasing  with  the  siege, 
5  many,  through  mere  hunger  and  want,  pined 
\  and  languished  away,  or  fell  dead  in  the 
',  street  ;    and  it  is   remarkable,  that  when 
<;  their  long-expected   succors   arrived  from  \ 
\  England,  they  were  upon  the  point  of  being  s 
•   reduced  to  this  alternative,  either  to  pre- 
c  serve  their  existence  by  eating  each  other, 
j  or   attempting   to   fight  their  way  through 
i  the  Irish,  which  must  have  infallibly  pro- 
|  duced  their  destruction. 
I       These  succors  were  most  happily  brought 
(.   by  the  ship  Mountjoy,  of  Derry,  and  the 
;   Phoenix,  of  Coleraine,  at  which  time  they 


had  only  nine  lean  horses  left,  with  a  pint 
of  meal  to  each  man.  By  hunger,  and  the 
fatigues  of  war,  their  7,361  fighting  men 
were  reduced  to  4,300,  one  fourth  part  of 
whom  were  rendered  unserviceable. 

As  the  calamities  of  the  besieged  were 
very  great,  so  likewise  were  the  terrors 
and  sufferings  of  their  protestants  friends 
and  relations  ;  all  of  whom  (even  women 
and  children)  were  forcibly  driven  from 
the  country  thirty  miles  round,  and  inhu- 
manly reduced  to  the  sad  necessity  of  con- 
tinuing some  days  and  nights,  without  food 
or  covering,  before  the  walls  of  the  town  ; 
and  were  thus  exposed  to  the  continual  fire 
both  of  the  Irish  army  from  without,  and 
the  shot  of  their  friends  from  within. 

But  the  succors  from  England  happily  ar- 
riving, put  an  end  to  their  affliction  ;  and 
the  siege  was  raised  on  the  31st  of  July, 
having  been  continued  upward  of  three 
months. 

The  day  before  the  siege  of  Londonder- 
ry was  raised,  the  Inniskilleners  engaged 
a  body  of  6,000  Irish  Roman  catholics,  at 
Newton  Butler,  or  Crown  castle,  of  whom 
near  5,000  were  slain.  This,  with  the 
defeat  at  Londonderry,  so  much  dispirited 
the  papists,  that  they  gave  up  all  further 
attempts  at  that  time  to  persecute  the  prot- 
estants. 

In  the  year  following,  1690,  the  Irish 
who  had  taken  up  arms  in  favor  of  James 
II.,  were  totally  defeated  by  William  III. ; 
and  that  monarch,  before  he  left  the  coun- 
try, reduced  them  to  a  state  of  subjection, 
in  which  they  very  long  continued,  at  least 
so  far  as  to  refrain  from  open  violence,  al- 
though they  were  still  insidiously  engaged 
in  increasing  their  power  and  influence  ; 
for,  by  a  report  made  in  the  year  1731,  it 
appeared,  that  a  great  number  of  ecclesias- 
tics, had,  in  defiance  of  the  laws,  flocked 
into  Ireland ;  that  several  convents  had 
been  opened  by  Jesuits,  monks,  and  friars  ; 
that  many  new  and  pompous  mass-houses 
had  been  erected  in  the  most  conspicuous 
parts  of  their  great  cities,  where  there  had 
not  been  anv  before  ;  and  that  such  swarms 


242 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


;  of  vagrant,  immoral  Romish  priests  had  ap-  >  benofits  will  arise  from  the  establishment 
\  peared,  that  the  very  papists  themselves  j  of  protestant  schools  in  various  parts  of  the 
\  considered  them  as  a  burden.  \  kingdom,  in  which  the  children  of  the  Ro- 

But,  notwithstanding  all  the  arts  of  priest-  {  man  catholics  are  instructed  in  religion  and 
\  craft,  all  the  tumid  and  extravagant  har- '  literature,  whereby  the  mist  of  ignorance 
;  angues  of  Hibernian  orators,  and  the  gross  ;  is  dispelled,  which  was  the  great  source  of 
i  and  wilful  misrepresentations  of  their  self-  s  the  cruel  transactions  that  have  taken 
I  styled  liberal  abettors,  the  protestant  reli-  >  place,  at  different  periods,  in  that  king- 
>,  gion  now  stands  on  a  firmer  basis  in  Ire- '  dom  ;  and  this  is  sufficiently  proved  by  the 
;  land  than  it  ever  before  did.  The  Irish,  \  fact,  that  those  parts  of  the  country  which 
'  who  formerly  led  an  unsettled  and  roving  <  have  been  disgraced  by  the  most  horrible 
;  life,  in  the  woods,  bogs,  and  mountains,  <  outrages,  are  those  in  which  the  most  pro- 
'  and  lived  on  the  depredation  of  their  neigh- 1  found  ignorance  and  bigotry  still  prevail. 
J  bors  ;  they  who  in  the  morning  seized  the  |  In  order  to  preserve  the  protestant  inter-  \ 
j  prey,  and  at  night  divided  the  spoil,  have,  \  est  in  Ireland  upon  a  solid  basis,  it  behooves  < 

>  for  many  years  past,  become  comparatively  I  all  in  whom  power  is  invested  to  dis-  \ 
(  quiet  and  civilized.     They  taste  the  sweets  <  charge    their    respective    duties    with    the 

;  of  English  society,  and  the  advantages  of  j  strictest  assiduity  and  attention  ;  tempering 
'{  civil  government.  >  justice  with  mercy,  and  firmness  with  con- 

i  The  heads  of  their  clans,  and  the  chiefs  >  ciliation.  They  should  endeavor  rather  to 
'  of  the  great  Irish  families,  who  cruelly  op-  j  gain  the  hearts  of  the  people  by  kindness 

>  pressed  and  tyrannized  over  their  vassals,  >  than  to  enslave  them  by  fear  ;  and  to  show  I 
$  are  now  dwindled,  in  a  great  measure,  to  ij  them  that  the  ministers  of  the  protestant  re-  • 
I  nothing ;  and  most  of  the  ancient  popish  '>  ligion  are  more  estimable,  instead  of  more  \ 
(  nobility  and  gentry  of  Ireland  have  re-  i  powerful,  than  the  Romish  clergy.  A  sin-  j 
I  nounced  the  Romish  religion.  \  gle  voluntary  proselyte  is  worth  a  thousand  \ 
I       It  is  also  to  be  hoped,  that  inestimable  <  converts  to  "  the  holy  text  of  pike  and  gun."  \ 


POPISH  CRUELTIES  IN  MEXICO  AND  SOUTH  AMERICA. 


9^»Tv|><iW»,a^HE  bloody  tenets  of  the  Ro- 
il;^'^"^rvfesjt^i 
IlFrl:'' :-v^y'--' I     man    catholic    persuasion, 

j,  'J        S&C?        etch 

*  *       v      and  the  cruel  dispositions 

(     }  of    the    votaries    of    that 

H»  church,  can  not  be  more 

amply  displayed,  or  truly 
depicted,  than  by  giving  an  authentic  and 
simple  narrative  of  the  horrid  barbarities 
exercised  by  the  Spaniards  on  the  innocent 
and  unoffending  inhabitants  of  America.  In- 
deed, the  barbarities  were  such,  that  they! 
would  scarcely  seem  credible  from  their 
enormity,  and  the  victims  so  many,  that 
they  would  startle  belief  by  their  numbers, 
if  the  facts  were  not  indisputably  ascer- 
tained, and  the  circumstances  admitted  by 


their   own    writers,  some  of   whom  have  \ 

even  glorified  in  their  inhumanity,  and,  as  j 

Roman  catholics,  deemed  those  atrocious  \ 

actions  meritorious,  which  would  make  a  i 

protestant   shudder   to   relate,   so  that   we  j 
may  well  exclaim  with  the  poet: — 

"  Bigot*  will  draw,  wherever  poppry  reigns, 
The  streaming  blood  from  pious  martyr's  veins  ; 
Alike  in  Europe,  or  th<>  eastern  parts, 
Their  cruel  tortures,  and  internal  arts, 
Alike  in  polished,  or  unpolished  climes, 
Their  superstition)  prejudice,  and  crimes. 
The  murders,  Lisbon  or  Madrid  can  show, 
Are  matched  in  Goa,  and  in  INIkxico; 
\\  bile  Romish  malice  hears  triumphant  sway, 
To  cloud  the  splendor  of  the  gospel  day  ; 
While  barb'rous  nun  with  truth  and  sense  at  strife,   \ 
Deprive  the  just  and  innocent  of  life." 

The  Spanish  historians  in  general,  and 
most  of  the  theological  writers  admit,  that  ] 


B 


THE  CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


243   I 


the  Spaniards  were  guilty  of  the  barbarities 
of  which  they  are  accused.  Indeed,  the 
whole  is  amply  displayed  by  a  writer,  who 


In  justice,  however,  to  the  great  com- 
mander who  conducted  the  expedition,  it 
is  necessary  to  observe,  that  historians  ad- 


had  the  most  authentic  authority  for  all  he  >  mit,  "  When  Christopher  Columbus  sat  out   1 
asserts,  and  was  an  eye-witness  of  many  >  upon  his  discovery,  under  Ferdinand  and  \ 


of  the  cruelties  he  describes.  The  person 
alluded  to  is  the  celebrated  Bartholomeo 
de  las  Casas,  bishop  of  Chiapa,  a  town 
and  province  of  Mexico,  or  New  Spain. 
A  portrait  of  this  famous  prelate  is  thus 
drawn  by  an  able  French  writer  :  "  The 
celebrated  Bartholomeo  de  las  Casas  was 
a  virtuous  ecclesiastic,  whom  the  desire 
of  converting  infidels  had  invited  into 
America.  He  possessed  most  of  the  talents 
which  form  the  truly  apostolic  man  ;  a 
strong  zeal,  an  ardent  charity,  a  perfect 
disinterestedness,  an  irreproachable  purity 


Isabella,  king  and  queen  of  Spain,  he  was 
exhorted  to  behave  with  all  possible  hu- 
manity toward  such  nations  as  he  might 
arrive  among  ;  and  that  he  complied  exact- 
ly with  those  instructions,  but  was  ill  sec- 
onded by  his  companions.  Most  of  these 
were  men,  who  being  voluntary  exiles  from 
their  native  country,  hoped  thereby  to  es- 
cape the  punishment  justly  due  to  their 
crimes,  and  who,  at  the  hazard  of  dying  an 
honorable  death,  thirsted  after  the  riches 
of  the  New  World." 

Columbus    first   landed    in    a    place,  to 


of  manners,  and  a  robust  constitution,  which  which  he  thought  proper  to  give  the  ap-  ; 
enabled  him  to  undergo  the  greatest  fa-  pellation  of  Port  Royal.  The  neighbor-  \ 
tigues.  His  enemies  could  reproach  him  hood,  or  district,  to  which  this  spot  apper-  < 
with  nothing  but  a  too  great  vivacity  of  tained,  or  belonged,  was  governed  by  a  \ 
temper  ;  but  then  his  virtue,  his  under-  powerful  cacique,  or  chief,  called  Guacan-  ; 
standing,  and  the  singular  talents  by  which  aric.  This  prince  appeared  serene  in  his  \ 
he  won  the  confidence  of  the  Americans,  \  air,  affable  in  his  manner,  and  mild  in  his  \ 
made  him  a  very  respectable  character."  <  disposition  ;  and  his  subjects,  though  great-  \ 
From  this  prelate's  writings,  who  was  a  ly  surprised  at  the  first  appearance  of  the  < 
Roman  catholic,  and  consequently  can  not  Spaniards,  soon  contracted  a  great  familiari- 
be  supposed  to  speak,  with  prejudice  against  ty  with,  and  gave  them  ample  demonstra-  \ 
those  of  his  own  persuasion,  and  some  \  lions  of  their  hospitable  tempers, 
other  authentic  materials,  we  shall  select  i  The  avarice  of  the  Spaniards  soon  be-  5 
the  ensuing  particulars.  \  coming  conspicuous,  and  their  thirst  after  J 

The  West  Indies,  and  the  vast  continent  5  gold  appearing  to  the  natives,  they  readily  \ 
of  America,  were  discovered  by  Columbus,  s  parted  from  their  golden  trinkets,  bracelets,  J 
in  1492.  This  distinguished  commander  &c,  to  the  Spaniards,  in  exchange  for  a  \ 
landed  first  in  the  large  island  of  St.  Do-  few  glass  beads,  or  brass  bells,  or  some  I 
mingo,  or  Hispaniola,  which  was  at  that  s  other  such  inconsiderable  baubles, 
time  exceedingly  populous  ;  but  this  popu-  5  The  opinion  entertained  by  the  His-  ; 
lation  was  of  very  little  consequence,  the  paniolans  of  the  Spaniards  who  visited  ' 
inoffensive  inhabitants  being  murdered  by  ?  them,  was  rather  romantic  ;  for  they  look-  j 
multitudes,  as  soon  as  the  Spaniards  gained  \  ed  upon  them  to  be  descended  from  heaven,  ;: 
a  permanent  footing  in  the  island.  Blind  and  to  have  a  command  of  the  elements.  \ 
superstition,  bloody  bigotry,  and  craving  \  This  exalted  idea  of  their  new  guests  oc-  { 
avarice,  rendered  that,  in  the  course  occasioned  them  to  imitate  all  their  actions,  j 
years,  a  dismal  desert,  which,  at  the  arrival  \  and  to  copy  every  ceremony  they  saw  the  j 
of  the  Spaniards,  seemed  to  appear  as  an  \  Spaniards  perform,  without  having  the 
earthly  paradise;  so  that  at  present  there  is  j  least  conception  of  its  meaning.  \ 

scarce  a  remnant  of  the  ancient  natives  re- 1      While  this  good  correspondence  lasted,  > 
maining  i  Columbus's  ship  foundered  in  a  storm,  and  j 


244 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


consequently  himself  and  his  crew  were  ?  among  other  things,  several  women.  This 
at  the  mercy  of  the  Hispaniolans.  The  <  outrage,  however,  did  not  go  unpunished, 
friendly  cacique,  however,  administered  {  for  the  cacique  of  the  country  so  ravaged, 
every  consolation  in  his  power,  sent  canoes  '<  whose  name  was  Caunabo,  inspired  with 
to  succor  the  ship,  and  attended  in  person,  indignation  at  their  behavior,  attacked  them 
that  his  subjects  might  not  plunder  it.  He  j  in  their  retreat,  recovered  the  women  and 
built  warehouses  by  the  sea-side  to  secure  s  spoils,  and  cut  the  invaders  to  pieces, 
the  goods,  was  so  much  affected  that  he  s  Flushed  with  this  success,  Caunabo  pro- 
shed  tears  at  the  Spaniards'  loss,  and  even  I  ceeded  immediately  to  the  fort,  which  was 
offered  Columbus  his  whole  possessions,  \  only  defended  by  a  few  Spaniards.  He 
if  he  would  remain  in  that  country.  \  invested   it   with   the  soldiers   under  his 

A  caraval,  or  galley,  having  escaped  the  \  command,  but  the  Spaniards  defended  them- 
storm,  Columbus  determined  to  venture  in  \  selves  with  such  bravery,  that  the  natives 
that  to  Spain,  in  order  to  give  an  account  >  were  repulsed.  This  determined  Caunabo 
of  his  discovery.  He,  therefore,  thanked  \  to  act  by  stratagem  ;  he,  accordingly,  with- 
the  cacique,  told  him  he  must  return  to  drew  his  army  in  the  daytime,  and  sent  a 
Spain,  but  that  he  would  leave  part  of  his  \  chosen  detached  body  in  the  night,  who, 
countrymen  with  him.  \  swimming  across  the  ditch,  set  fire  to  the 

On  this  intimation  the  cacique  built  a  >>  fort,  which  was  entirely  consumed,  together 
commodious  house  for  the  residence  of  his  I  with  the  Spaniards.  It  is  here  requisite 
guests,  and,  with  the  wrecks  of  the  ship,  >  to  mention,  that  a  few  days  before  the  fort 
raised  them  a  kind  of  fort,  which  he  fur-  >  was  burnt,  the  cacique,  Guacanaric,  still 
ther  secured  by  sinking  a  ditch  round  it.  >  friendly  to  the  Spaniards,  attempted  to 
In  this  fort,  Columbus,  at  his  departure  for  !>  relieve  the  place  ;  but  Caunabo,  having 
Spain,  left  behind  him  forty  men,  a  gunner,  >  a  superior  army,  engaged,  and  defeated 
a  carpenter,  a  surgeon,  a  few  field-pieces,  '>  him. 
and  a  quantity  of  ammunition.  \      Soon  after  these  transactions,  Columbus 

The  command  was  given  to  Diego  Do-  \  returned  from  Spain  with  a  strong  force, 
ranna,  and  strict  orders  left  to  behave  well  \  and  a  powerful  fleet.  With  prudent  man- 
to  the  natives.  i  agement  things  might  have  been   happily 

Columbus,  however,  was  no  sooner  de-  \  adjusted,  but  this  fleet  was  manned  by  the 
parted,  than  the  Spaniards  left  behind  ]  refuse  of  all  the  prisons  in  Spain,  by  wretch- 
totally  changed  their  conduct,  and  became  <  es  without  principles,  feelings,  or  humanity, 


at  once  robbers  and  libertines,  plundering 
the  natives  of  their  wealth  upon  every  oc- 
casion, debauching  their  wives  and  daugh- 


and  officered  by  persons  of  a  most  mer- 
cenary disposition  :  so  that  Columbus  could 
not  act  agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  his  own 


ters,  and  acting  with  such  an  excess  of  \  heart,  without  hazarding  a  mutiny, 
barbarous  rapacity,  that  they  soon  changed  s  Under  pretence  of  revenging  the  deaths 
those  sincerest  of  friends  into  the  bitterest  \  of  those  Spaniards  who  had  been  killed 
of  enemies.  Guacanaric,  that  tender  and  S  during  the  absence  of  Columbus,  the  new- 
humane  cacique,  expostulated  in  vain  with  <  comers  began  to  ravage  and  plunder  the 
the  Spaniards,  on  the  impropriety  and  cru-  \  country,  concealing  their  avarice  and  cruel- 
elty  of  their  practices  :  they  laughed  at  his  ty  under  the  pretended  mask  of  a  generous 
remonstrances,  rejected  his  advice,  and  still  {  resentment, 
continued  their  depredations. 

At  length  they  became  so  bold,  that  a 
party  of  the  Spaniards  went  armed  from 
the   fort,   attacked   a   neighboring  district, 


'  Thus,  by  their  artifices,  hiding  shame, 
And,  under  vices,  stealing  virtue's  name." 


A  desperate  war  was  kindled,  and  car- 
ried on  with  the  most  bloody  barbarity,  for 


carrying  off  a  great  deal  of  plunder,  and,  \  the  space  of  three  years,  without  intermis- 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


245    < 


sion.  The  natives  had  numbers  and  cour- 
age: the  Spaniards,  though  inferior  in  num- 
bers, had  equal  courage,  greater  discipline, 
and  the  invincible  assistance  of  firearms. 
Urged  by  avarice,  and  prompted  by  cruelty, 
they  spared  neither  age  nor  sex. 

Six  caciques,  or  sovereign  princes, 
brought  their  forces  into  the  field  to  op- 
pose these  invaders.  Their  endeavors 
were,  however,  in  vain  ;  the  skill,  disci- 
pline, and  firearms  of  the  Spaniards  still 
prevailed,  and  the  Hispaniolan  caciques 
were  glad  to  agree  to  a  cessation  of  hostil- 
ities, which  was  chiefly  brought  about  by 
the  good  offices  of  Guacanaric,  who  still 
continued  firm  in  his  attachment  to  the 
Spaniards,  and  had  accompanied  them  in 
all  their  expeditions. 

Notwithstanding  the  truce,  the  Spaniards 
continued  their  rapacious  depredations  as 
before,  and  put  to  death  the  natives  wher- 
ever they  met  them.  The  repeated  mur- 
ders of  the  poor  natives,  and  the  endless 
persecutions  and  violence  of  the  Spaniards, 
at  length  determined  the  caciques,  and 
principal  people,  not  to  suffer  any  more 
maize,  or  Indian  corn,  and  manioc,  a  root 
of  which  bread  is  made,  to  be  planted, 
thinking  thus  to  starve  out  their  tyrants, 
while  they  retired  with  their  people  to  the 
woods  and  mountains. 

The  Spaniards,  however,  had  corn  of 
their  own  to  sow,  and  were  well  supplied 
with  provisions  from  Europe,  so  that  they 
felt  but  little  inconvenience  from  this  reso- 
lution of  the  natives,  whom  they  pursued 
to  their  recesses,  and  penetrated  into  pla- 
ces before  judged  inaccessible :  till  being 
harassed  from  mountain  to  mountain,  and 
wood  to  wood,  more  perished  by  fatigue  and 
hunger  than  by  the  sword  and  firearms. 

In  this  lamentable  situation  the  remnant 
thought  proper  to  submit,  and  were  treated 
with  the  most  inhuman  rigor. 

Ferdinand,  king  of  Spain,  indeed,  sent 
orders  to  treat  the  natives  with  all  possible 
humanity,  and  to  make  converts  of  them  by 
the  mildest  means  ;  but  these  orders  were 
neglected,  through  the  avaricious  barbarity 


of  his  subjects ;  and  even  in  his  own 
;  council  some  bigoted  papists  proposed  to 
;  enslave  the  people  entirely,  and  to  divide 
:  them  among  the  Spaniards,  who  should  em- 
ploy them  to  work  in  the  mines,  or  other- 
wise, as  they  might  think  proper.  The 
pretence  of  endeavoring  to  establish  the 
Romish  religion  made  the  groundwork  of 
this  project ;  the  promoters  of  it  insinua- 
ting, that  the  natives  would  never  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  become  good  catholics,  so 
long  as  they  should  be  permitted  to  exer- 
cise their  superstitions,  and  escape  a  saluta- 
ry violence.  At  the  same  time  it  was  urged 
that  this  would  be  of  the  highest  advantage 
in  a  political  view,  as  the  natives,  by  being 
thus  shackled,  would  be  no  longer  able  to 
rebel.  This  matter  was  argued  at  the  court 
of  Spain,  and  at  length  it  was  inhumanly 
agreed  upon,  that  the  natives  of  Hispaniola 
should  be  divided  among  the  conquerors, 
and  become  their  slaves. 

At  the  time  of  the  division  of  the  natives, 
those  unhappy  people  were  reduced  to  the 
number  of  sixty  thousand,  and  these  being 
ruled  with  a  rod  of  iron,  and  barbarously 
persecuted  by  their  inhuman  masters,  were, 
in  the  space  of  only  five  years,  diminished 
to  fourteen  thousand  :  so  that  allowing  one 
thousand  for  natural  deaths  during  that  time, 
forty-five  thousand  fell  martyrs  to  others' 
cruelty,  and  their  own  anguish. 

The  inhumanity  of  these  transactions 
raised  at  once  the  indignation,  and  excited 
the  compassion,  of  that  elegant  writer,  and 
humane  prelate,  the  celebrated  Bartholomeo 
de  las  Casas,  who,  full  of  horror  at  what 
he  had  seen,  took  shipping  for  Europe,  and 
repaired  to  the  court  of  Spain,  where  he 
made  a  just  and  candid  representation  of 
the  whole  affair,  and  pleaded  strongly  in 
favor  of  the  poor  natives  of  Hispaniola. 

This  worthy  gentleman  was  opposed  at 
the  Spanish  court  by  some  of  those  mer- 
cenary wretches  who  were  partly  proprie- 
tors of  the  conquered  lands,  and  consequent- 
ly of  the  enslaved  natives  on  them.  He, 
however,  continued  assiduous  in  his  en- 
deavors, and  indefatigable  in  his  labors  to 


246 


& 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


effect  his  point.  Urged  by  a  most  benev- 
olent spirit,  he  passed  several* times  back- 
ward and  forward,  from  Europe  to  Ameri- 
ca, and  from  America  to  Europe  :  in  both 
\  places,  however,  he  met  with  strong  oppo- 
;  sition ;  in  Europe  from  the  king's  council, 
\  and  in  Hispaniola  from  a  council  called  the 
j  council  of  the  Indies. 
|  These  impediments  determined  the  wor- 
X  thy  prelate,  Las  Casas,  to  lay  the  whole  mat- 
j  ter  before  Prince  Charles  (afterward  the 
i  renowned  emperor,  Charles  V.),  and  who, 
2  at  this  time,  was,  in  right  of  the  queen,  his 
\  mother,  governor  of  the  new-discovered 
\  countries.     The  bishop  of  Darien,  or  Span- 

>  ish  Terra  Firma,  was  employed  by  the  en- 

>  slavers  of  the  poor  natives  (a  practice  at 
i,  that  time  general  throughout  all  the  West 
\  Indies),  to  oppose  Las  Casas.  As  the  bish- 
op of  Darien  was  a  man  of  a  disposition 
totally  contrary  to  that  worthy  and  humane 
prelate,  he  did  all  he  could  to  prevent  his 
success.  The  prince,  however,  determined 
to  hear  both  parties,  and  named  a  day  for 
the  matter  to  be  solemnly  argued  before 
him. 

At  the  time  appointed,  the  prince  being 
seated  on  a  kind  of  throne,  and  the  proper 
attendants  and  officers  present,  the  bishop 
of  Darien  was  ordered  to  deliver  his  senti- 
ments, and  explain  his  motives  for  wishing 
to  continue  the  slavery  of  the  native  Amer- 
icans ;  when  that  dissembling,  artful,  and 
inhuman  prelate,  addressed  himself  thus  to 
the  prince  : — 

"  Most  August  Prince, 

"  It   is   very  extraordinary  that  a  point 

should  still  be  argued,  which  hath  been  so 

frequently  decided  in  the  councils  of  the 

catholic    kings,    your    august     ancestors. 

\  Doubtless,  the  sole  reason  why  the  Amer- 

X  icans  have  at  last  been  treated  with  so  much 

i  severity,  is  from  a  mature  reflection  on  their 

$  dispositions  and  manners.     Need  I  set  be- 

\  fore  you  the  treacheries  and  rebellions  of 

\  the  worthless  Hispaniolans  1     Was  there  a 

I  possibility  of   ever  reducing  them  except 

j  by  violent  methods  1     Have   they  not  set 

\  every  engine  to  work  to  destroy  their  mas- 


ters, in  hopes  thereby  to  free  them  from 
their  new  government  ?  If  we  allow  free- 
dom to  these  barbarians,  it  will  be  giving 
up  the  conquest  of  America,  and  all  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  expected  from  it  ?  But 
wherefore  should  any  one  find  fault  with 
their  being  made  slaves  ?  Do  not  those 
who  conquer  barbarous  nations  reduce  them 
to  a  state  of  captivity  1  And  is  not  this 
the  privilege  of  the  victors  ?  Did  not  the 
Greeks  and  Romans  often  treat  thus  the 
rude  people  whom  they  subdued  by  force 
of  arms  ?  If  ever  any  nation  merited  harsh 
treatment,  it  must  be  these  Americans,  who 
resemble  brutes  more  than  rational  crea- 
,  tures  !  How  shocking  are  their  crimes,  at 
'■  which  nature  herself  blushes  !  Do  we 
discover  the  least  traces  of  reason  in  them  ? 
Do  they  follow  any  other  laws  than  those 
of  their  brutal  passions  1  But  it  will  be 
objected,  that  their  insensibility  and  savage 
disposition  prevent  their  embracing  our 
religion  ;  but  what  do  we  lose  by  this  ? 
We  want  to  make  Christians  of  those  who 
are  scarce  human  creatures.  Let  our  mis- 
sionaries declare  what  fruit  they  have 
reaped  by  their  labors,  and  how  many  of 
these  people  are  sincere  proselytes.  But 
here  it  will  be  objected,  that  the  Hispani- 
olans are  souls  for  whom  our  blessed  Sa- 
vior died  on  the  cross  :  I  grant  it,  and  God 
forbid  that  I  should  desire  to  have  them 
abandoned.  Eternally  be  praised  the  zeal 
of  our  pious  monarch,  for  winning  over 
these  infidels  to  Christ.  But  then  I  affirm 
that  the  most  effectual  way  of  doing  this, 
will  be  by  enslaving  them  ;  and  I  add, 
that  this  is  the  only  method  that  can  be 
employed. 

"  Being  so  ignorant,  stupid,  and  vicious, 
will  it  ever  be  possible  to  instil  into  their 
minds  the  necessary  knowledge,  except 
by  keeping  them  in  perpetual  bondage  ? 
Equally  desirous  of  renouncing  the  Chris- 
tian religion,  as  of  embracing  it,  they  often, 
a  moment  after  their  baptism,  return  to 
their  native  superstitions." 

The  bishop  of  Darien  having  concluded 
his    sophistical   and    fallacious   harangue, 


8 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


247 


Bartholomeo  de  las  Casas  rose,  and  made 
the  following  reply  : — 

"Illustrious  Prince:  I  was  one  of! 
the  first  who  went  to  America,  when  it 
was  discovered  under  the  reign  of  the  invin- 
cible monarchs  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  your 
majesty's  predecessors.  Neither  curiosity 
nor  interest  prompted  me  to  undertake  so 
long  and  dangerous  a  voyage,  the  saving 
of  the  souls  of  heathens  being  my  sole  ob- 
ject. Why  was  I  not  allowed  to  labor  as 
assiduously  as  the  ample  harvest  required  ? 
Why  was  I  not  permitted,  even  at  the  ex- 
pense of  my  blood,  to  ransom  so  many 
thousand  souls,  who  fell  unhappy  victims 
to  avarice  or  lust  ?  Some  Avould  persuade 
us  that  barbarous  executions  were  neces- 
sary, in  order  to  punish  or  check  the  re- 
bellion of  the  Americans  :  but  let  us  inquire 
to  whom  they  are  owing.  Did  not  these 
nations  receive  the  Spaniards,  who  came 
among  them,  with  gentleness  and  humani- 
ty ?  Did  they  not  show  more  joy  in  pro- 
portion, in  lavishing  treasures  upon  them, 
than  the  Spaniards  did  greediness  in  re- 
ceiving them  ?  But  our  avarice  was  not 
yet  satiated  :  though  they  gave  up  to  us 
their  lands,  their  settlements,  and  their 
riches,  we  also  would  tear  from  them  their 
wives,  their  children,  and  their  liberties. 
Could  we  imagine  them  so  miserable  as 
not  to  show  any  resentment,  though  we 
hanged  and  burnt  them  ? 

"  To  blacken  these  unhappy  people,  their 
enemies  assert,  that  they  are  scarce  human 
creatures  :  but  it  is  we  who  ought  to  blush, 
for  havingbeen  less  men,  and  more  barbarous 
than  they.  What  have  they  done  ?  only 
defended  themselves  when  attacked,  and 
repulsed  injuries  and  violence  by  force  of! 
arms.  Despair  always  furnishes  those  who 
are  drove  to  the  last  extremity  with  weap- 
ons ;  but  the  Romans  are  instanced  to  give 
a  sanction  to  our  enslaving  these  nations. 
The  person  who  speaks  thus  is  a  Christian, 
and  a  bishop.  Is  this  gospel  ?  What 
right  have  we  to  enslave  a  people  who  were 
born  free,  and  whom  we  disturbed,  though 
they  never  offended  us  1     If  they  must  be 


our  vassals,  even  let  them  be  so  ;  the  law 
of  the  conqueror  indeed  authorizes  thus  ; 
but  then  what  have  they  done  to  deserve 
slavery  ?  He  adds,  that  they  are  stupid, 
brutal,  and  addicted  to  vices  of  every  kind  ; 
but  is  this  to  be  wondered  at?  Can  better 
things  be  expected  from  a  nation  deprived 
of  gospel  light  ?  Let  us  pity,  but  not  op- 
press them  ;  let  us  endeavor  to  instruct, 
enlighten,  and  reform  them  ;  let  us  disci- 
pline, but  not  plunge  them  into  despair. 
All  this  time  religion  is  used  as  a  cloak  to 
cover  such  crying  acts  of  injustice.  How! 
shall  chains  be  the  first  fruits  which  these 
people  reap  from  the  gospel  ?  But  will  it 
be  possible  for  us  to  inspire  them  with  a 
love  for  its  dictates,  now  they  are  so  en- 
venomed by  hatred,  and  exasperated  at 
their  being  dispossessed  of  that  invaluable 
blessing,  LIBERTY?  Did  the  apostles 
employ  such  methods  in  their  conversion 
of  the  gentiles  ?  They  themselves  sub- 
mitted to  chains,  but  loaded  no  man  with 
them  ;  Christ  came  to  free,  not  to  enslave 
us  ;  submission  to  the  faith  he  left  us  ought 
to  be  a  voluntary  act,  and  should  be  propa- 
gated by  persuasion,  gentleness,  and  reason ; 
violence  and  force  will  make  hypocrites 
only,  but  never  true  worshippers. 

"  Permit  me  now  to  ask  the  bishop, 
whether  the  Americans,  since  their  being 
enslaved,  have  discovered  a  stronger  desire 
to  become  Christians  ?  Whether  their 
several  masters  have  endeavored  to  dispel 
their  ignorance,  by  pouring  instruction  into 
their  minds  ?  And  what  advantage  have 
either  religion  or  the  state  reaped,  from 
this  distribution  of  the  slaves  ?  At  my 
first  arrival  in  Hispaniola,  it  contained  mill- 
ions of  inhabitants,  and  there  now  remain 
scarce  an  hundredth  part  of  them. 

"  Thousands  have  perished  by  want, 
fatigue,  merciless  punishments,  cruelty,  and 
barbarity :  these  men  are  murdered  in 
sport ;  they  are  dragged  into  dreadful  cav- 
erns, and  there  denied  the  light  of  the 
skies,  and  that  of  the  gospel.  If  the  blood 
unjustly  shed  of  one  man  only,  calls  loudly 
for  vengeance,  how  strong  must   be   the 


248 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


cry  of  that  of  so  many  unhappy  creatures, 
which  is  shedding  daily  ?  I  therefore 
humbly  implore  your  highness's  clemency, 
for  subjects  so  unjustly  oppressed,  and  take 
the  liberty  to  declare,  that  if  you  do  not 
afford  them  the  relief  in  your  power,  heaven 
will,  one  day,  call  you  to  an  account  for 
the  numberless  acts  of  cruelty  which  you 
might  have  prevented." 

Prince  Charles  highly  applauded  the 
good  bishop's  zeal,  and  promised  to  redress 
the  grievances  complained  of.  His  prom- 
ise, however,  appeared  to  be  that  of  a 
\  courtier,  rather  than  of  a  generous  prince  ; 
for  he  totally  forgot  to  perforin  :  so  that 
the  poor  Hispaniolans  dwindled  away  be- 
neath oppression  and  barbarity,  or  if  they 
fled  to  the  woods  or  mountains,  were  hunted 
and  destroyed  like  wild  beasts. 

While  the  poor  people  of  Hispaniola 
were  thus  oppressed,  the  Spaniards  rev- 
elled in  luxuries,  and  lived  in  the  utmost 
splendor,  till  the  mines  were  drained  of 
their  treasures,  and  most  of  the  natives 
were  worn  out  by  working  them,  or  had 
fallen  martyrs  to  the  cruelty  of  their  ty- 
rants. 

The  natives  of  Guatemala,  a  country  of 
America,  were  used  with  similar  barbarity. 
As  these  people  were  exceedingly  numer- 
ous, viz.,  at  the  rate  of  a  thousand  to  one 
with  respect  to  the  Spaniards  who  settled 
there,  the  latter,  for  fear  they  should  grow 
)  too  powerful,  refused  them  the  use  of  any 
weapons,  more  particularly  their  bows  and 
arrows,  in  the  use  of  which  they  were  very 
expert. 

The  natives   were   formerly  active  and 

valiant,  but  from  ill-usage  and  oppression 

grew  slothful,  and  so  dispirited,  that  they 

not  only  trembled  at  the  sight  of  firearms, 

but  even  at  the  very  looks  of  a   Spaniard. 

Some  were    so   plunged   in   despair,  that  j 

after  returning  home  from  laboring  hard  for 

^  their  cruel  task-masters,  and  receiving  only 

£  contemptuous  language  and  stripes  for  their 

>  pains,  they  have  sunk  down  in  their  cabins, 

\  with  a  full  resolution  to  prefer  death  to  such 

\  slavery ;    and,  in   the    bitterness  of  their 


anguish,  have  refused  all  sustenance  till 
they  perished. 

If  an  American  attempted  to  run  away, 
he  was  brought,  if  caught,  to  the  next  mar- 
ket-place, and  there  scourged  almost  to 
death ;  but  if  an  American  made  a  com- 
plaint against  a  Spaniard,  it  was  not  at- 
tended to  in  the  least. 

In  every  respect  the  Spaniards  treated 
these  miserable  sons  of  bondage  with  the 
greatest  barbarity. 

Many  of  the  Spanish  writers  confess, 
that  their  tyrannical  countrymen  were  fre- 
quently mean  enough  to  steal  the  tools  and 
implements  of  the  poor  natives,  in  order  to 
deduct  half  their  week's  scanty  allowance 
of  provisions  for  restoring  them. 

Some  let  them  out  to  work  to  other  mas- 
ters, who  never  failed  to  make  them  earn 
what  they  paid  for  their  hire.  Others  were 
let  out  to  travellers,  who  harassed  them  in 
long  journies,  and  through  rugged  ways, 
with  heavy  burdens  on  their  backs,  till 
they  frequently  fainted,  and  sometimes  ex- 
pired on  the  road  ;  for  the  life  of  the  na- 
tive was  not  in  the  least  considered,  if  the 
person  who  hired  him  made  satisfaction  to 
his  master. 

Many  were  compelled  to  carry  burdens 
of  an  enormous  weight  for  three  days  to- 
gether :  the  load  was  fastened  to  their  head 
and  shoulders  by  means  of  a  leather  strap, 
which  crossed  the  forehead,  and  the  pres- 
sure of  which  frequently  made  the  blood 
to  gush  from  the  eyes  and  nostrils,  and 
leave  a  frightful  scar  in  the  forehead.  With 
such  loads  they  travelled  barefooted  through 
all  kinds  of  roads,  and  in  all  seasons. 

By  repeated  barbarities,  and  the  most 
execrable  cruelties,  the  vindictive  and  mer- 
ciless Spaniards  not  only  depopulated  His- 
paniola, Porto-Rico,  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and 
the  Bahama  islands,  but  destroyed  above 
twelve  millions  of  souls  upon  the  continent 
of  America,  in  the  space  of  forty  years. 

The  cruel  methods  by  which  they  mas- 
sacred and  butchered  the  poor  natives,  were 
innumerable,  and  of  the  most  diabolical 
nature. 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


249 


Incredible  as  the  following  circumstances  <  put  to  death,  and  destroyed,  eight  hundred  $ 
may  appear,  they  are  as  well  authenticated  s  thousand  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  country.  5 
as  any  facts  that  ever  were  delivered  by  \  Between  the  years  1523  and  1533,  five  \ 
the  pen  of  history,  and  are  even  attested  s  hundred  thousand  natives  of  Nicaragua  \ 
by  many  of  the  Roman  catholic  missiona-  s  were  transported  to  Peru,  where  they  all  ; 
ries  themselves,  as  well  as  by  the  before-  \  perished  by  incessant  labor  in  the  mines.  \ 
mentioned  Bartholomeo  de  las  Cases, viz: — s      In  the  space  of  twelve  years,  from  the  \ 

1.  The  Spaniards  stripped  a  large  and ;  first  landing  of  Cortez  on  the  continent  of  < 
very  populous  town  of  all  its  inhabitants,  \  America,  to    the    entire    reduction   of  the  \ 
whom  they  drove  to  the  mines,  leaving  all  s  populous  empire  of  Mexico,  the  amazing 
the  children  behind  them,  without  the  least  \  numberof  four  millions  of  Mexicans  perish-  < 


)  idea  of  providing  for  their  subsistance,  by  \  ed,  through  the  unparalleled  barbarity  of  the 
(  which   inhuman   proceeding   six  thousand  I  Spaniards.     To  come    to    particulars,  the 

<  helpless  infants  perished.  5  city  of  Cholula  consisted  of  thirty  thousand 
)  2.  As  the  Spaniards  were  marching  tow-  >  houses,  by  which  its  great  population  may 
'  ard  a  large  town,  the  inhabitants  came  >  be  imagined.  The  Spaniards  seized  on 
<^out  to  meet  them  with  refreshments,  not-  \  all  the  inhabitants,  who  refusing  to  turn 
■;  withstanding  which  they  fell   upon  these  >  Roman  catholics,  as  they  did  not  know  the 

<  defenceless   people,  and  put  them  all  in-  /  meaning  of  the  religion  they  were  ordered 

<  discriminately  to  the  sword.  I  to  embrace,  the  Spaniards  put  them  all  to 

3.  A  Spanish  officer,  having  three  hun-  >  death,  cutting  to  pieces  the  lower  sort  of 
;  dred  Americans  allotted  to  him  as  slaves,  I  people,  and  burning  those  of  distinction. 
i  he,  in  only  three  months,  killed  two  hun- 1      Pedro  de  Alvarado,  one  of  the  officers 
I  dred  and  sixty  of  them,  by  excessive  labor,  I  under  the  command  of  Cortez,  laid  waste 

<  and  hard  living,  in  the  mines.  j  a  whole  province,  and  committed  innumera- 
'  4.  A  Spanish  commander,  in  1514,  de-  \  ble  murders  and  barbarities  on  the  poor 
\  stroyed  all  the  inhabitants  of  a  tract  of  land  j  defenceless  natives. 

I  of  above  five  hundred  miles  in  length.  \      In  the  province  of  Honduras,  near  two  ) 

\  5.  An  officer,  under  the  above  com-  \  millions  of  the  natives  perished,  the  Span-  < 
'  mander,  murdered  above  two  thousand  \  iards  setting  fire  to  the  towns,  and  burning  i 
I  persons  in  one  expedition.  '  the  inhabitants  in  their  houses.  ', 

Whenever  the  people  of  any  town  had  I  Sometimes  the  Spaniards  spared  the  < 
't  the  reputation  of  being  rich,  an  order  was  ',  handsomest  American  women,  not  through  ; 
't  immediately  sent,  that  every  person  in  it  i  motives  of  humanity,  but  merely  to  gratify  \ 
\  should  turn  Roman  catholic  :  if  this  was  their  lusts,  or  make  them  domestic  drudges.  \ 
\  not  directly  complied  with,  the  town  was  \  Exasperated  at  the  cruelties  exercised  on  } 
\  instantly  plundered,  and  the  inhabitants  \  them,  some  of  the  Mexicans  dug  pits  across  < 
\  murdered  ;  and  if  it  was  complied  with,  a  \  the  public  roads,  in  which  they  set  sharp  'i 
)  pretence  was  soon  after  made  to  strip  the  \  stakes,  and  then  covered  them  slightly  over  5 


'/  inhabitants  of  their  wealth. 
i 


I  so  artfully,  that  the   danger  could  not  be  f 

One   of  the   Spanish   governors    seized  >  perceived.     A  few  of  the  Spanish  horse  J 

upon   a  very   worthy  and  amiable   Indian  \  falling  into  these  holes,  the  Spaniards  were  / 

prince,  and  in   order   to   extort  from   him  I  so  enraged,  that  they  seized  a  great  num-  < 

where  his  treasures  were  concealed,  caused  I  ber  of  the  natives,  filled  the  pits  with  them,  < 

his  feet  to  be  burnt  till  the  marrow  dropped  I  and  buried  them  alive.  <} 

I  from  his  bones,  and  he  expired  through  the  I      One  of  the   Spanish   commanders,  in  a  ' 

i  extremity  of  the  torments  he  underwent.      I  few  years,  destroyed  eight  thousand  Mexi-  j 

|       In  the  interval,  between  the  years  1514  >  cans,  by  half  starving  them,  and  making  j 

;  and   1522,   the  governor  of  Terra   Firma  I  them  work  hard,  to   build   him   a   superb  j 


250 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


palace,  and  lay  out  elegant  gardens  to  it. 
Twenty  thousand  of  the  natives  being  em- 
ployed to  carry  the  baggage  of  the  Span- 
iards upon  an  expedition,  all  except  two 
hundred  were  harassed  to  death  by  their 
cruel  masters,  before  the  return  of  the  troops. 

The  governor  of  Jucatan,  in  1526,  not 
finding  any  gold  in  that  province,  seized 
upon  a  great  number  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  sold  them  for  slaves,  to  make  amends 
for  his  disappointment.  To  account  for 
these  cruelties,  the  Spaniards  absurdly  al- 
ledged  :  "  That  the  inhuman  butcheries 
formerly  committed  by  the  Americans,  in 
sacrificing  so  many  rational  creatures  to 
their  wicked  idols,  was  a  sufficient  war- 
rant to  justify  those  who  should  divest 
thern  of  their  country." — "  But  (says  an 
intelligent  writer)  the  same  argument  might, 
with  much  greater  reason,  be  urged  against 
the  Spaniards  themselves,  who  sacrificed 
so  many  millions  of  Indians  to  their  darling 
idol,  gold." 

The  Spanish  officers,  upon  their  first 
entering  into  any  country,  or  province, 
began  their  operations  by  summoning  the 
people  to  submit  to  the  pope,  and  the  king 
of  Spain,  and  to  turn  Roman  catholics. 
The  people,  not  knowing  who  the  pope  and 
the  king  of  Spain  were,  not  understanding 


what  was  meant  by  the  Roman  catholic 
persuasion,  very  naturally  refused.  The 
refusal  was  immediately  made  a  handle  of 
by  the  Spaniards,  who  thereupon  seized 
their  persons,  plundered  the  houses,  ran- 
sacked the  temples,  murdered  many  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  enslaved  the  rest. 

Romish  missionaries  have  been  continual- 
ly sent  to  America,  not  so  much  (in  reality) 
to  propagate  religion,  as  to  aggrandize  the 
papal  power ;  for,  on  the  first  discovery  of 
America,  the  pope  invested  the  kings  of 
Spain  with  the  sovereignty  of  it,  under  the 
title  of  the  royal  patrimony,  upon  condition 
that  the  catholic  monarchs  should  main- 
tain a  multitude  of  priests,  friars,  Jesuits, 
&c,  in  America,  to  fascinate  the  people, 
and  advance  the  power  and  authority  of  the 
Roman  pontiffs. 

Multitudes  of  secular  priests  in  South 
America,  live  with  all  the  splendor  of  men 
of  the  greatest  opulence. 

In  some  towns  they  have  had  such  pow- 
er as  frequently  to  reverse  the  sentence  of 
the  civil  magistrate,  whether  it  related  to 
fines,  imprisonment,  whipping,  or  death ; 
and  if  the  civil  magistrates  appeared  in  the 
least  refractory,  these  ecclesiastical  tyrants 
would  imprison  them  for  contempt  of  the 
church. 


JUDGMENTS  OF   GOD  ON  PERSECUTORS. 


^HOUGH    the    Omnipotent, 
through    his    mercy    and 
justice,  does    not    always 
punish  in  this  world  those 
who    have,    in    the    most;, 
flagrant  manner,  offended 
his  holy  ordinances,  but  reserves  to  himself^ 
their  punishment  in  a  future  state  ;  yet  thej 
numerous  instances  that  might  be  brought, 
1  where  it  has,  even  in  this  life,  pleased  his 
divine  will  to  show  us    his  terrible  judg- 
ments   on    such    offenders,   may   serve    to 
\  deter  us,  by  these  dreadful  examples  of  his 


Almighty  displeasure,  from  such  actions 
as  our  consciences  tell  us  must  certainly 
offend  his  holy  laws. 

In  scarcely  any  instance  has  this  been 
more  remarkably  conspicuous,  than  the 
punishments  he  has  thought  proper  to  in- 
flict on  those  who  have  been  the  persecu- 
tors of  his  children  in  holiness  and  truth. 
Many  examples  may  be  produced  from 
history,  both  sacred  and  profane,  of  all 
ages,  some  of  the  most  distinguished  of 
which  we  shall  lay  before  our  readers. 

The  examples  of  this  kind  to  be  deduced 


THE  CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


251 


from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  of  Pharaoh, 
Saul,  Jezebel,  with  many  others  in  the 
Old  Testament,  and  of  Herod,  Judas,  Pi- 
late, &c,  in  the  New,  are,  we  trust,  so 
generally  known  in  this  Christian  country, 
as  not  to  need  particularizing. 

Waving,  therefore,  a  further  mention  of; 
the  sacred  histories,  we  shall  examine 
the  profane.  In  the  Roman  history,  what 
can  be  more  striking  on  this  subject  than 
the  miserable  end  of  the  emperor  Nero, 
that  bitter  persecutor  of  Christianity,  whose 
agonies  were  so  great,  from  the  shocking 
barbarity  with  which  he  was  treated,  even 
by  his  own  subjects,  that  he,  in  vain,  im- 
plored to  be  eased  by  death  from  his  suf- 
ferings ;  and  when  he  could  find  neither 
friend  nor  enemy  to  grant  even  this  request, 
he  added  the  crime  of  suicide  to  his  enor- 
mous vices,  and,  unlamented,  perished  by 
his  own  hand. 

The  two  emperors,  Diocletian  and  Maxi- 
minian,  rigid  enemies  to  the  Christian  faith, 
after  abdicating,  through  vexatious  circum- 
stances, their  thrones,  both  died  unhappily  : 
the  latter,  in  particular,  in  his  attempting 
to  restore  himself,  unnaturally  falling  by 
the  means  of  his  own  son  Maxentius,  who 
likewise  came  to  as  untimely  an  end  as  his 
parent,  being  drowned,  in  the  prime  of  his 
life,  and  the  very  meridian  of  his  sins  and 
impieties. 

The  example  of  the  emperor  Maximinus, 
another  persecutor  of  Christ's  church,  de- 
serves recital.  Soon  after  his  setting  forth 
his  impious  decrees  against  the  unoffending 
Christians,  which  were  engraved  in  brass, 
he  was,  by  the  just  judgment  of  the  Most 
High,  afflicted  with  a  dreadful  and  unnat- 
ural disease,  having  lice,  and  other  shock- 
ing vermin,  crawling  from  his  very  entrails, 
in  so  terrible  a  manner,  as  to  render  abor- 
tive every  method  to  afford  him  relief;  and 
attended  with  so  horrid  a  putrescent  stench, 
that  for  several  days  before  his  death  no 
person  would  hazard  their  lives  to  give  him 
the  least  assistance. 

To  leave  the  Roman  history,  and  turn 
our  eyes  on  transactions  nearer  the  present 


period,  let  us  take  notice  of  the  hand  of 
God  on  Sigismund,  emperor  of  Germany, 
for  his  unjustifiable  treatment  of  John  Huss, 
and  Jerome  of  Prague.  After  the  martyr- 
dom of  those  eminent  lights  of  the  reforma- 
tion, by  his  orders,  nothing  he  took  in 
hand  succeeded,  but  a  series  of  the  most 
unhappy  events  attended  him  and  his 
family,  which,  in  one  generation,  became 
extinct :  he,  in  his  wars,  was  ever  the 
loser ;  and  his  empress  Barbara  turned  out 
so  infamously  lewd,  as  to  be  a  lasting  in- 
famy to  her  family,  and  disgrace  to  her  sex. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  II.  of  France,  jhe 
Chancellor  Oliver,  who,  at  the  instigation 
of  Cardinal  Lorrain,  brother  to  that  im- 
placable enemy  of  the  gospel  the  duke  of 
Guise,  had  stretched  the  authority  of  the 
laws  to  bring  many  worthy  persons  to  utter 
destruction,  for  their  adherence  to  the  truth  : 
this  unjust  judge,  being  struck  with  great 
remorse  and  self-conviction  of  his  misdeeds, 
fell  sick,  and  so  great  were  the  horrors  of 
his  tormented  conscience  for  his  cruel  de- 
crees against  the  righteous,  that  he  could 
not  rest  day  or  night,  for  the  torture  of  his 
wounded  mind,  but  shortly  expired,  horri- 
bly shrieking  out  with  a  loud  cry,  in  his 
last  moments  :  "  Oh  !  cardinal,  thou  wilt 
make  us  all  to  be  damned,"  with  which 
words  he  gave  up  the  ghost. 

Neither  did  the  cardinal  himself,  nor  his 
brother  the  duke  of  Guise,  long  triumph  in 
the  success  of  their  bloody  machinations, 
as  the  former  shortly  after  died,  and  the 
latter  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  daggers  of  his 
exasperated  countrymen. 

Hoimeister,  an  arch  papist,  and  a  chief 
pillar  of  the  pope's  anti-christian  doctrine, 
as  he  was  proceeding  on  his  journey  to 
Ratisbon,  to  be  present  at  a  council  held 
there,  and  to  defend  the  Roman  supersti- 
tions against  the  defenders  of  Christ's 
gospel,  was  prevented  from  executing  his 
impious  purpose,  being  suddenly  seized  in 
his  progress,  near  the  city  of  Ulmes,  with 
an  extreme  illness,  of  which  he  almost 
instantly  expired,  in  great  agonies,  crying 
out  in  the  most  horrid  manner. 


2A 


w 


!52 


THE    CHRISTIAN   MAIITYROLOGY. 


>  The  following  tragedy,  which  happened  J  tion  for  him,  because  he  had,  against  the 
|  in  the  university  of  Louvaine,  will  likewise  \  positive  conviction  of  his  own  conscience, 
|  exemplify  our  subject :  a  learned  person  \  withstood  the  truth  of  God,  and  Christ's 
\  in  the  above  seminary,  who  was  reader  of  *  holy  word;"  and  thus  shortly  ended  his 
\  divinity  to  the  monks  of  St.  Gertrude,  and  \  wretched  life,  with  all  the  violence  of  the 
\  had  violently  maintained  the  corrupt  errors  j  most  furious  insanity. 

;  of  popery,  at  length,  falling  extremely  ill,  '•      A  Dominican   friar,  of  Munster,  as  he 

<  and  perceiving  no  hopes  of  recovery,  he  \  was  inveighing  in  the  pulpit  against  the 

\  regretted,  with  the  greatest  perturbation  of  j  protestant  religion,  which  was  then  spring- 

;   mind,  his  manifold  sins,  but  more  particu-  \  ing  up,  was  suddenly  struck  with  a  flash  of 

\  larly  his  having  so  warmly  espoused  the  j  lightning,  which  immediately  deprived  him 

\  cause  of  idolatry,  &c,  in  opposition  to  the  I  of  life. 

divine  truths  of  the  gospel  ;  an  offence,  he  j      A  popish  gentleman  in  Germany,  hear- 

said.  of  so  heinous  a  nature,  as  to  be  too    ing  one  of  the  reformed  sing :  "  Our  only 

great  to  expect  God's  pardon.     Continually    hold  or  fortress  is  our  God ;"  immediately 

repeating  this  terrible  expression,  he  ex-  5  answered 

(  pired  in  all  the  horrors  of  desperation. 

;.       Jacob  Latomus,  who  was  president  of  a 


college  at  Louvaine,  is  another  instance  of 
the  dreadful  judgments  of  God,  on  persons 
offending  against  his  most  holy  word. 
Latomus  went  to  Brussels,  to  make  a  long 


/  will  help  to  shoot  against  thy 
stay,  or  fortress,  or  else  I  will  not  live ;"  and 
within  three  days  he  expired,  without  the 
least  signs  of  repentance. 

Ponchet,  archbishop  of  Tours,  made  ap- 
plication to  have  a  court  erected,  called 
Chamber  Ardent,  wherein  to  condemn  the 


oration  against  the  reformed  religion,  and  \  protestants  to   the   flames  ;  but  soon  after  ) 

to  vindicate  popery,  which  he  did  before  )  obtaining  permission  to  execute  his  cruel  \ 
the  emperor  ;  but  so  little  to  the  purpose,  <  intentions,  he  was  struck  with  a  disease, 

as  to  verify  the  common  observation,  that  \  called  the  Fire  of  God,  which  began  at  his  \ 

a  bad  advocate  does  much  more  harm  than  j  feet,  and  ascended  upward  with  so  torment-  I 

good  to  any  cause.     The  Romish  clergy,  jj  ing  a  burning,  that  he  was  obliged  to  have  > 

and  indeed  the  whole  court,  seem  to  have  i  one  member  cut  off  after  another,  and  thus  > 
been  of  this   opinion,  as  he    returned  to  j  miserably  ended  his  days. 

Louvaine,  despised  and  ridiculed  by  those,  |      In  the  history  of  Switzerland  is  a  mem-  ) 

who  plainly  saw  he  had  vainly  attempted  '■',  orable    incident  of  the   divine  justice    on  ) 

to  defend  a  train  of  absurdities,  which  re- <  popish  perfidy,  and    unjust    barbarity.     A  \ 

quired  the  utmost  sophistry  to  vindicate  ;  \  consul  of  that  republic,  an  inveterate  ene-  > 

and   whether  it    might    proceed    from  the  <  my  to   the  reformed,  being  a  man  of  im-  > 

mortification  he  felt,  at  the  indifferent  re-  j  mense  fortune,  purposing  to  erect  a  mag-  \ 

ception  his  pious  falsehoods  met  with  at  I  nificent  edifice,  to  convey  the  dignity  of  | 
Brussels,  or  whether  his  own  conscience  j  his   family  to   posterity,   was    assiduously 

plainly  pointed  out  to  him  his  impious  con- 1  diligent    to   procure    the   most    ingenious  \ 
duct  (the  latter,  indeed,  seems  to  be  more  \  artificers,  in  every  department,  to  conduce 

probably  the  case)  he,  very  soon  after  his  \  thereunto.     Among  others,  being  informed  \ 
return,  fell  into  an  open  fury  of  madness,  \  that  at  the  city  of  Trent  resided  a  most 

at  the  very  instant  he  was  giving  his  public    singular  excellent  carver,  named  John,  he  j 

lectures,  and  was  forced  to  be  conveyed,    was  very  desirous  of  procuring  the  assist-  S 

raving  with  lunacy,  to  a  close  room,  and  \  auce  of  his  ingenuity,  to  the  decoration  of  \ 

fastened  down  therein  ;  and  from  that  pe- 1  his   intended    mansion.     But    an    obstacle  \ 

riod  to  his  last  breath,  his  whole  cry  was,  \  occurred  that  seemed,  for  a  time,  to  prevent  j 
that   "he    was    damned,    and    rejected    ol\>  his  purposed  intention.     John  was  a  man, 


j  God,  and  that  there  was  no  hope  of  salva-  i  who,  to  his  other  excellent  qualities,  added 


%■ 


ffi 


THE   CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLOGY. 


253 


the  most  sincere  and  immovable  attach- 
ment to  the  purity  of  the  gospel,  and  uuly 
commendable  abhorrence  of  popish  idola- 
try ;  and  well  knowing  the  character  of 
the  consul  to  be  that  of  one  of  the  blindest 
bigots  to  his  superstition,  very  prudently, 
for  a  time,  refused  to  put  his  personal 
safety  in  the  hands  of  those,  whose  religion 
adopts  the  infamous  maxim,  to  hold  no 
faith  with  those  they  cjhoose  to  denominate 
heretics  ;  and  honestly  and  ingenuously 
declaring,  that  as  he  could  not  behold  the 
impious  idolatry  which  the  people  of  the 
consul's  city  were  so  addicted  to,  but  with 
contempt,  and  as  any  token  of  that  con- 
tempt might  be  the  utter  destruction  of 
him,  he  rather  chose  to  decline  the  ad- 
vantageous offers  made  him,  than  to  accept 
of  them  at  the  hazard  of  his  life. 

These  motives,  for  a  time,  induced  him 
to  resist  the  tempting  proffers  to  engage  in 
this  business  ;  but,  at  length,  overcome  by 
the  deluding  offers,  and  solemn  promises 
of  unlimited  protection  made  him,  as  to 
his  faith,  this  unhappy  victim  of  papal 
treachery  consented  to  give  his  assistance 
on  this  occasion,  and  accordingly  repaired 
to  the  consul's  house,  to  exert  his  ingenu- 
ity in  the  embellishment  thereof. 

But  what  indignation  must  it  create  in 
the  mind  of  every  good  man,  to  reflect  on 
the  barbarous  return  made  to  this  worthy 
sufferer  for  the  truth,  who,  after  having 
finished  his  performance  with  the  greatest 
skill  and  ingenuity,  instead  of  receiving 
the  recompense  due  to  his  great  merit  and 
industry,  was,  by  this  infamous  consul,  ac- 
cused of  having  spoken  irreverently  of  the 
Romish  faith,  and  under  that  pretext,  by 
him  cruelly  condemned  to  be  beheaded, 
which  barbarous  sentence  was  accordingly 
executed,  but  not  till  the  much-injured  mar- 
tyr, naturally  shocked  at  the  inhumanity 
and  treachery  of  the  villanous  consul,  had, 
with  a  most  affecting  and  solemn  delivery, 
made  a  noble  speech,  reciting  the  treacher- 
ous conduct  of  his  detestable  betrayer,  and 
concluding  with  citing  him  to  appear,  with- 
in three  days,  at  the  tribunal  of  the  Most 


\  High,  to  answer  for  the  unjust  murder  he 

I  was  about  to  commit.     The  consul,  though 

at  that  time  in  perfect  health,  and  in  the 

bloom  of  youth,  suddenly  dropped  dead  on 

the  third  day  after  this   pious   martyr  had 

(by  his  wickedness)  been  thus  barbarously 

sacrificed.     A  detestable  proof  of  the  little 

regard  to  be  paid  by  protestants  to  the  faith- 

^  less  asseverations  of  catholics  in  general, 

\  who     never    scruple    violating    the    most 

'/  solemn  engagements  to  promote,  what  they 

jterm,    the    service    of    the    holy    mother- 

5  church ! 

/  Thus  having  presented  our  readers  with 
>  some  remarkable  instances  of  supernatural 
^justice,  and  divine  retaliation,  in  foreign 
;  nations,  we  shall  next  proceed  to  lay  be- 
l  fore  them  such  examples  of  a  similar  na- 
l  ture,  that  have  occurred,  at  different  periods, 
I  in  the  history  of  England. 
t  That  furious  destroyer  of  God's  children 
in  purity,  the  bigoted  Mary,  found  but  little 
comfort  during  the  short  space  she  dis- 
graced the  British  throne,  by  embruing 
her  merciless  hands  in  the  blood  of  so 
many  of  her  truly  protestant  subjects,  as 
the  people  of  that  realm  had  great  reason 
to  rejoice  at  the  conclusion  of  a  reign, 
diametrically  the  contrary  of  what  is  al- 
ways wished  to  attend  the  reigns  of  good 
princes,  viz.,  to  be  long  and  happy,  hers 
being  equally  unsuccessful,  and  of  short 
duration.  Disappointed  of  almost  every 
purpose,  and  mortified  with  a  train  of  events 
the  most  contrary  to  her  expectations,  she, 
at  length,  fell  a  sacrifice  to  pining  grief 
and  vexation  ;  and  even  owned  herself, 
that  she  died  of  that  corrosive  and  mental 
torture,  a  broken  heart.  And  perhaps  there 
is  not  a  more  contrasting  parallel,  either 
in  the  British,  or  any  other  history,  than 
the  glorious  and  long-continued  reign  of 
that  noble  vindicator  of  the  reformed  re- 
ligion, the  ever-to-be-honored  queen  Eliza- 
beth, and  the  unauspicious  tyranny  of  her 
sanguinary  sister  ;  as  the  one  will  be  hand- 
ed down  to  posterity  with  immortal  honor, 
while  the  other  will  ever  be  reflected  on 
with  abhorrence  ! 


.» 


254 


THE   CHRISTIAN   MARTYROLOGY. 


The  wretched  end  of  that  arch-persecu- 
tor Gardiner,  bishop  of  Winchester,  almost 
immediately  on  his  closing  his  bloody  pro- 
ceedings, with  the  sacrificing  of  those  two 
eminent  martyrs,  Ridley  and  Latimer,  has 
something  in  it  remarkably  striking. 

The  fatal  day  on  which  these  martyrs 
suffered  at  Oxford,  the  old  duke  of  Norfolk 
paid    a  visit    to  Bishop    Gardiner,    at  his 
house  in  London,  in   consequence  of  his 
5  being  invited  to  dine  with  him  at  that  time. 
5  But  so  eager  was  this    bloody  prelate  to 
't  glut  his  ears  with  the  news  of  the  absolute 
'/  destruction   of  these   two  pious   sufferers, 
^  that  he  postponed  his  usual  time  of  dining, 
\  saying,  he  would  not  eat  till  he  received 
'tf  positive  assurance  of  the  execution  of  the 
\  barbarous  sentence  he  knew  was  to  be  put 
|  in  practice  that  day  at  Oxford. 
\       Accordingly,  as  soon  as  the  messenger 
>  arrived,  which  was  not  till  four  o'clock, 
|  and  had   given  him  the  assurance  of  his 
5  cruel  wishes  being  completed,  he  ordered 
|  dinner  to  be  ushered  in,  and  setting  down 
\  to  it  with  great  apparent  satisfaction,  said  : 
;  "  Now,  my  lord  duke,  we  can  set  down  to 
\  refresh  ourselves  with  pleasure."     But  ob- 
s  serve  the  hand   of  God  on  this  impious 
:  priest :  no  sooner  had  he  swallowed  a  few 
morsels,  but  he  was  suddenly  seized  with 
■  so  violent  a  fit  of  illness,  that  he  was  ob- 
liged to  be  taken  from  table,  and  from  that 
moment  to  the  last  of  his  life,  never  was 
free  from  the  greatest  misery  and  torture  ; 
for  fifteen  days  and  nights  did  he  languish, 
not  being  able  to  evacuate,  which  caused 
such  a  terrible  inflammation  in  his  body, 
as  if  he  were,  in  a  manner,  burning  alive. 


)  By  the  raging  fire  in  his  intestines  his  body 
\  was  miserably  swollen  and  black ;  his  tongue 
s  thrust  at  last  out  of  his  mouth  :  he  expired 
I  a  shocking  spectacle,  and  with  a  most 
\  nauseous  and  unendurable  effluvia  :  a  prop- 
er end  to  so  inhuman  a  persecutor  of  the 
righteous. 

Dr.  Dunning,  the  bloody  chancellor  of 
Norwich ;  Berry,  ecclesiastical  commis- 
sary in  Norfolk  ;  and  Thornton,  bishop  of 
Dover,  all  rigid  persecutors,  suddenly  fell 
down  dead  within  a  little  space  of  one  an- 
other ;  and  the  next  that  succeeded  Thorn- 
ton in  the  bishopric  of  Dover,  broke  his 
neck  down  stairs  at  Greenwich,  just  after 
receiving  the  blessing  of  Cardinal  Poole. 

We  have  shown  in  the  preceding  pages 
some  of  the  many  barbarous  persecutions 
practised  by  the  church  of  Rome  against 
our  Christian  brethren  in  all  ages  :  it  has 
ever  exerted  its  utmost  efforts  to  overturn 
a  divine  system,  which  is  as  much  calcula- 
ted to  destroy  sin,  as  to  promote  true  piety 
and  godliness.  Let  us,  therefore,  hope, 
that  the  many  examples  of  the  severe  per- 
secutions against  Christianity  which  have 
been  recorded,  may  serve  to  unite  Chris- 
tians of  every  denomination  more  strongly 
in  the  bands  of  brotherly  love,  and  uni- 
versal benevolence  : — 

"  O  bigotry  !  in  whose  dark  train 
The  furies,  with  their  horrors,  reign; 
The  basis  of  whose  empire's  built 
On  streams  of  blood,  and  stores  of  guilt : 
In  future  may  thy  hands  be  bound, 
Thy  croaking  voice  confined  from  sound, 
Till  innocence  no  longer  bleeds, 
Till  soft  humanity  succeeds  ; 
Till  far  as  distant  winds  can  blow, 
Or  surging  waters  ebb  or  flow  ; 
The  great  Redeemer's  words  are  known, 
And  all  men  gospel  blessings  own." 


THE    END. 


Please  give  this  Circular  a  careful  examination. 


HISTORICAL,   THEOLOGICAL, 


AND 


MISCELLANEOUS 


PUBLISHED  BY 


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PHILADELPHIA. 

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g-P^§^ 


jStRI 

|9  One  of  the  most  Interesting  Works  published  ! 

PROFESSOR  FROST'S  NEW  HISTORICAL  WORK. 

REMARKABLE  EVENTS 


HISTORY  OF  AMERICA, 

FROM  THE  DISCOVERY  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 

COMPILED  FROM  THE  BEST  AUTHORITIES  BY  J.  FROST,  LL.D. 

EMBELLISHED    WITH 

SEVEN  HUNDRED  ENGRAVINGS, 

FROM    DESIGNS    OF    THE    MOST    DISTINGUISHED    ARTISTS. 

The  demand  of  the  public  for  Historical  Works,  and  especially  for  those  which  relate  to  the 
history  of  our  own  country,  has  increased  so  rapidly  of  late,  that  HISTORY  may  now  be 
pronounced  the  leading  department  of  literature.  Not  only  classical  histories,  but  every 
other  description  of  books  which  may  be  expected  to  throw  light  upon  history,  are  eagerly 
demanded.  Biographies  and  Memoirs  of  Distinguished  Men,  local  Histories,  Historical  and 
Topographical  accounts  of  States,  Historical  Collections,  Correspondence  of  Generals,  Com- 
modores, and  Statesmen,  State  papers,  and  documents  of  all  kinds,  old  and  new,  find  a  ready 
sale  as  soon  as  they  are  published.  This  decided  taste  of  the  public  for  historical  reading, 
whilst  it  is  hailed  by  the  patriot  and  the  friend  of  sound  popular  education  aa  an  evidence  of 
increased  intelligence  among  the  people,  points  out  distinctly  the  duties  of  authors  and  pub- 
lishers, to  contribute  their  best  efforts  towards  the  substitution  of  books  of  real  utility,  instead 
•f  the  lighter  and  less  useful  publications,  which  have  heretofore  had  too  free  a  currency. 

The  work  here  announced  is  intended  to  embrace  a  view  of  the  most 

REMARKABLE    EVENTS 

Which  have  transpired  since  the  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA.   It  includes  an  account  of 

THE  CONQUEST  OF  MEXICO,  by  Herman  Cortes. 

THE  CONQUEST  OF  PERU,  by  Pizarro  and  Almagro. 

THE  CONQUEST  OF  FLORIDA,  by  De  Soto. 

THE  DISCOVERY  AND  SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  U.  STATES  AND  CANADA. 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR,  and 

THE  SEVEN  YEARS'  WAR,  which  terminated  in  the  Conquest  of  Canada. 

The  Leading  Incidents  of  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION,  and 

THE  WAR  OF  1812,  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

THE  WAR  WITH  THE  FRENCH  REPUBLIC. 

THE  SEVERAL  INDIAN  WARS,  and 

THE  LATE  WAR  WITH  MEXICO. 

This  work  fills  1600  pages,  and  is  very  richly  embellished  throughout. 

It  presents  a  great  variety  of  REMARKABLE  INCIDENTS,  and  brings  to  view  a  great 
number  of  Distinguished  Characters,  including 

DISCOVERERS,  CONQUERORS,  GENERALS,  STATESMEN,  AND  HTERARY  CHARACTERS, 

and  will  serve  to  gratify,  in  a  high  degree,  the  prevailing  taste  for  Historical  Beading. 

The  Publisher  has  spared  no  expense  to  render  this  work  in  all  respects  worthy  of  public 
patronage. 

The  Publisher  relies  on  the  liberality  and  discernment  of  the  public  for  remuneration  for 
the  great  expense  which  an  undertaking  of  this  magnitude  has  necessarily  involved. 

The  work  is  bound  in  a  neat  arabesque  style,  in  one  very  large  volume,  and  is  sold  at  the 
extremely  low  price  of 

THREE  DOLLARS  AND  FIFTY  GENTS  A  COPY! 

LEARY  &  GETZ,  Publishers, 

No.  138  North  Second  Strut,  Philadelphia. 


ROTTEGK'S 


p. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  'WORLD. 
MAGNIFICENTLY  ILLUSTRATED ! 

The  work  now  offered  to  the  public  is  designed  to  fill  tip  a  great  chasm  in  one  most 
important  department  of  literature.  To  satisfy  a  want  felt,  not  only  by  the  student, 
by  the  man  left  to  himself  for  an  education,  but  also  by  the  intelligent  of  all  classes 
of  society.  It  will  supply  the  great  mass  of  the  public,  who  are  at  present  almost 
necessarily  in  the  dark  as  to  the  past  world  »ud  its  destinies,  with  a  complete  picture 
of  all  the  great  events  relating  to  the  world  and  to  man,  from  the  earliest  dawn  of 
history  down  to  the  present  time ;  and  we  indulge  the  hope  that  it  Will  satisfy  the 
universal  want  of  a  good  General  History  of  the  World.  We  have  works  entitled 
"  Histories  of  the  World,"  or  "'  Universal  Histories,"  it  is  true  ;  but  all  of  them  (we 
mean  those  in  a  small  form,  and  such  as  are  within  the  reach  of  the  generality  of 
readers)  are  sadly  deficient,  ill-selected,  and  worse  arranged  :  they  eould  not,  accord- 
ing to  the  ideas  of  the  author  of  this  work,  be  considered,  strictly  speaking,  General 
Histories  of  the  World. 

The  author  of  this  History  is  celebrated  throughout  Europe  as  a  scholar,  as  a  states- 
man, and  as  a  bold  defender  of  liberty  ;  and  this  reputation  will  certainly  be  an  excel- 
lent recommendation  of  his  work  to  the  American  public.  Although  born  in  Ger- 
many, educated  in  its  far-famed  halls  of  learning,  and  breathing  a  German  atmos- 
phere, he  is  not  a  German  alone ;  he  is  a  man  whom  the  world  may  claim.  He  is  no 
mystic,  full  of  unintelligible,  useless  theories ;  but  a  man  devoted  to  practicable 
objects,  to  the  welfare  of  his  race,  and  to  pure  religion  and  morality. 

His  History  has  been  extensively  circulated  in  Europe  {in  the  G-erman,  French, 
Dutch,  Swedish,  and  Danish  languages),  and  is  the  most  popular  one  that  has  ever 
been  published.  For,  although  he  may  be  ranked  as  the  first  historian  of  Europe,  he 
has  written,  not  for  a  particular  class,  but  for  people  in  general.  In  fine,  his  History 
is  equally  fitted  for  the  student,  the  merchant,  the  farmer',  the  mechanic,  and  the  profes- 
sional man. 


THE  WORK  IS  PUBLISHED  IN  ONE  LARGE  OCTAVO  VOLUME  OF  OVER 

1700  PAGES, 

Illustrated  with  28  Splendid  Engravings. 

g^F"  In  order  to  bring  this  History  within  the 
reach  of  all  classes  of  readers,  the  Publishers 
have  been  induced  to  put  it  at  the  extremely 
lew  price  of 

$3.50  per  Copy. 

Over  100,000  Copies  of  this  valuable  work 
have  been  sold  in  Germany  alone. 


fiEARY    &   GETZ, 

Publishers,  No.  138  North  Second  Street,  Philadelphia 


m& 


History  of  the  World. 


BIT 


CHARLES  VON  ROTTECK,  LL.D. 


NOTICES  OF  THE  PRESS. 


"  We  welcome  this  fine  edition  of  a  very 
superior  historical  work.  On  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe  it  holds  the  highest  place 
as  a  true  and  faithful  account  of  the  World's 
History,  His  liberal  ideas  have,  it  is  true, 
brought  upon  him  the  wrath  of  royalty, 
nobility,  and  aristocracy,  but  they  will  win 
for  him,  in  this  country,  the  highest  praise ; 
even  in  Germany,  where  the  government 
looked  coldly  upon  Rotteck,  100,000  copies 
of  his  history  have  been  sold  within  a  few 
years.-  It  contains  an  immense  amount  of 
information,  compressed  within  a  moderate 
space;  and  yet,  while  it  avoids  diff'useness, 
it  is  sufficiently  elaborate,  and  in  the  work 
of  condensation,  nothing  material  is  lost. 
Rotteck's  work  brings  down  the  History 
of  the  World  to  the  year  1840.  The  events 
of  the  succeeding  period  of  ten  years,  up 
to  the  present  day,  are  given  in  a  continua- 
tion, so  that  for  present  readers,  there  is  no 
omission  of  a  single  historical  event." — 
\_Evt7iing  Bulletin. 

"  The  work  is  beautifully  illustrated  with 
numeTous  well  executed  engravings  of  the 
principal  events  in  the  World's  History. 
The  celebrity  of  Von  Rotteck  as  a  German 
writer,  the  popularity  of  the  German  edi- 
tion from  which  this  is  compiled,  and  the 
unusually  reasonable  rate  at  which  the 
book  is  sold,  will,  no  doubt,  commend  it  to 
the  reading  public." — [Public  Ledger. 

"  The  merit  of  this  work  is  proved  by 
the  large  circulation  it  has  reached  in  Ger- 
many, where  it  first  appeared :  one  hun- 
dred thousand  copies  having  been  disposed 
of,  and  the  demand  still  continuing.  From  a 
personal  examination  of  the  book,  we  can 
recommend  it  as  most  comprehensive  and 
correct.  Considering  its  size,  it  may  be 
regarded  as  superior  to  all  other  histories 
of  the  world.  It  is  particularly  adapted  to 
circulation  in  this  country,  the  author  being 
liberal  in  his  sentiments,  and  an  admirer 
of  the  United  States.  The  translation  has 
been  executed  with  spirit  and  fidelity.     A 


copious  Index,  and  a  table  of  Synchronal 
Events,  add  much  to  the  value  of  the  work. 
Too  much  credit  cannot  be  awarded  to  the 
publishers,  for  the  handsome,  yet  sterling 
style,  in  which  they  have  issued  the  volume  ; 
for  the  type  and  paper  are  excellent,  the 
numerous  illustrations  are  as  beautiful  as 
they  are  correct,  and  the  binding  is  neat 
and  substantial.  We  should  think  the  book 
indispensable  in  a  family  library." — [Sa- 
turday Gazette. 

"  The  work  is  very  valuable,  and  has 
long  enjoyed  the  highest  reputation  for 
historic  accuracy,  as  well  as  for  the  easy 
and  graceful  manner  in  which  the  facts  are 
arranged  and  communicated." — [Spirit  of 
the  Times. 

f  A  complete  narrative  from  the  creation 
to  the  year  1850,  four  volumes  in  one,  illus- 
trated with  twenty-eight  highly  finished 
historical  engravings;  the  type,  the  paper, 
and  the  binding  are  all  superb,  while  the 
engravings  are  spirited  and  effective.  This 
is  truly  one  of  the  most  valuable  publications 
of  the  day,  and  should  have  a  place  in  every 
library." — [Pennsylvania  Inquirer. 

"  Volumes  indicating  a  degree  of  patient 
investigation,  deep  varied,  and  laborious 
research,  which  may  justly  entitle  the 
work  to  the  appellation  of  'Library,'  for 
it  is  a  most  thorough,  full  and  complete 
library  in  itself,  of  all  matters  pertaining 
to  the  universal  history  of  all  nations. — 
[Saturday  Courier. 

"  This  history  is  a  good  one  and  has  been 
well  translated.  It  is  illustrated  by  excel- 
lent engravings,  and  will  ornament  any 
library  in  the  country." — [Philadelphia 
Sun. 


"  It  is  invaluable  as  a  book  of  reference, 
and  as  it  is  brought  down  to  the  present  day, 
every  historical  fact  is  to  be  found  in  its  well 
printed  pages." — [Scotts  Weelly  Paper 


Price  in  strong  Library  Binding, $2.50 

Red  Morocco,  Gilt  Edges  and  Gilt  Sides,     -     -     3.00 

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THE  LIFE 

OF  OUR  LORD  AND  SAYIOUR 

JESUS  CHRIST; 

CONTAINING    A 

FULL,  ACCURATE,  AND  UNIVERSAL  HISTORY, 

FROM  HIS  TAKING  UPON  HIMSELF  OUR  NATURE, 

TO    HIS 

CRUCIFIXION,  RESURRECTION,  AND  ASCENSION: 

TOGETHER    WITH    THE 

£to£0,  8tamscutioti0,  anb  ©ufferings 

OF    HIS 

AND  OTHER  PRIMITIVE  MARTYRS. 

AND    A 

HISTORY  OF  THE  JEWS, 

BROUGHT    DOWN    TO    THE    DESTRUCTION   OF    JERUSALEM. 

BY  REV^SISETOOD,  D.D. 

TO    WHICH    IS    ADDED    A    C-OXTINUATIOJT    OF    THE 

HISTORY  OF   THE   JEWS, 

FROM    THE 

DESTRUCTION  OF  JERUSALEM  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME; 

EXHIBITING   A    VIEW    OF    THE 

Various  Prophecies  Relating  to  this  Remarkable  People, 

AND    THE 

STRIKING  FULFILMENT  OF  THEM, 

PARTICULARLY  OF  THOSE  RELATING  TO  THEIR  PRESENT  CONDITION. 

This  work,  it  is  confidently  believed,  (from  the  nature  and  character  of  it,)  will  find  its  way 
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Apostles. 

LEARY  &   GETZ, 

PuMUKeri,  No.  138  North  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 


BURDER'S 


History  of  all  Religions : 


WITH  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE 


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By  Rev.  JOEL  PARKER,  D.D. 


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and  Customs  of  the  Mohammedans — The  Greek  Church — The  Religious  Tenets,  Cus- 
toms, Ceremonies,  &c,  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church — The  Religious  Customs  and 
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Associate  Reformed  Church,  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  Congregationalists,  Free  Will 
Baptists,  Campbellite  Baptists,  Moravians,  Swedenborgians,  Unitarians,  Universalists, 
Shakers,  Mormons,  &c,  &c.  Together  with  a  full  account  of  the  Religious  Cere- 
monies and  Customs  of  Pagan  Nations  and  Tribes,  including  the  Egyptians,  Car- 
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Curiamttt*  nf  Human  Malm 

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EMINENT     CHRISTIANS 

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VARIOUS    DENOMINATIONS, 
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John  Wlcllf, 
John  Husk, 
Jerome  of  Prague, 
Glrolamo  Savonarola, 
John  Craig, 
Hugh  Latimer, 
Admiral  Coligny, 
John  Hooper, 
Theodore  Beza, 
Catharine  of  Arragon, 
King  Edward  the  Sixth, 
John  Milton, 
Sir  Henry  Vane, 
Hngo  Grotlug, 
George  Pox, 
Cotton  Mather, 
Richard  Baxter, 
Thomas  Fowell  Bmton, 
Timothy  Dwlglit, 
Blaise  Pascal, 
Sir  DIathew  Hale, 
William  Penn, 
John  Wesley, 
Joseph  Addison, 
Hugh  Blair, 
William  Law, 
William  C'owper, 
Charles  Wesley, 
Edward  Young, 
Charles  Chauncy, 
Hannah  More, 
Matthew  Henry, 


James  Sanrln, 
William  Romaine, 
Robert  Lowth, 
Anne  Letitia  Barbauld, 
William  Carey, 
George  Lord  Lyttleton, 
Henry  Martyn, 
John    Frederick    Ober- 

lin, 
Thomas  Chalmers, 
Robert  Hall, 
Dr.  Thomas  Arnold, 
James  Montgomery, 
Joseph  Lancaster, 
Sir  Thomas  More, 
Martin  Luther, 
Philip  Melancthon, 
Thomas  Cranmer, 
Nicholas  Ridley, 
Isabella,  of  Castile, 
Frederic,       Elector     of 

Saxony, 
John  Calvin, 
Roger  Williams, 
John  Winthrop, 
Lady  Jane  Grey, 
I'lric  Zwingle, 
John  Knox, 
John  Eliot, 
Increase  Mather, 
John  Bunyan, 


Jonathan  Edwards, 
Samuel     Taylor      Cole- 
ridge, 
Gustavus  Adolphns, 
Jeremy  Taylor, 
Archbishop  Fenelon, 
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George  Whitehead, 
Elizabeth  Rowe, 
Archbishop  Tenison, 
John  Howard, 
James  Hervey, 
Humphrey  Prideanx, 
Isaac  Watts, 
Philip  Doddridge, 
Sir  Isaac  Newton, 
Henry   Scougal, 
Sir  William  Jones, 
Robert  Barclay, 
Anne  Haseltine  Judson, 
Reginald  Heber, 
Dr.  Marshman, 
Beilby  Porteus, 
"William  Wilberforce, 
Henry  Klrke  White, 
Elizabeth  Fry, 
Thomas  Clarkson, 
Legh  Richmond, 
Jane  Taylor, 
Joseph    John     Gnrney, 

&C,  &.C.,   &C. 


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WONDERS  AND  CURIOSITIES 

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Comprising  authentic  accounts  of  the  most  Wonderful  Freaks  of  Nature,  and  Arts 
of  Man,  among  which  will  be  found 

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Customs,  Romish  Indulgences. 

Ignis  Fatuus,  Electricity,  surprising  effect  of 
extreme  Heat  and  Cold,  Fairy  Rings,  Parhe- 
lia or  Mock  Suns,  Aurora  Borealis,  Shooting 
Stars,  Galvanism,  Magnetism. 

Buntzlau  Curiosities,  Automata. 

Wonderful  Inventions,  relating  to  all  trades 
and  professions. 

Sketches  of  Historical  Facts,  Man  in  the  Iron 
Mask,  Gipsies,  Priests,  Free  Masons,  Peep- 
ing Tom  of  Coventry,  Plague  of  Marseilles, 
Ceremonies  at  Queen  Elizabeth's  Dinner. 

Curious  account  of  the  scarcity  of  Books,  cele- 
brated Libraries,  Book  of  Blunders,  Origin 
of  Newspapers. 

Explanation  of  Letters  on  Gold  Coin,  Inven- 
tion of  Cards. 

Singular  names  of  the  English  during  Crom- 
well's time. 

Beautiful  Love  Letter. 

Creed  of  the  Jews. 

Human  Monstrosities,  Centaurs  and  Lapithso. 

Spontaneous  Combustion. 

Extraordinary  Echoes  and  Whispering  Places. 

Perpetual  Fires,  and  Remarkable  Lamps. 

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the  Nineteenth  Century,  illustrating  Life 
and  manners  at  the  present  day,  etc.  etc. 


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anism. 

Extraordinary  acquirements  and  performances 
of  Men,  Women,  and  Children  of  all  nations. 

Startling  and  surprising  adventures  and  char- 
acteristics concerning  the  Mammoth,  Ele- 
phant, Rhinoceros,  Hippopotamus,  Unicorn, 
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Butterflies,  Aphis,  Death  Watch,  Bread  Fruit 
Tree,  Fountain  Tree,  Paper  Tree,  Upas  or 
Poison  Tree,  The  44,000  Plants  of  the  Earth, 
and  everything  in  the  vegetable  kingdom. 

Minerals,  Meteoric  Stones,  Asbestos,  Diamonds, 
etc. 

Mountains  of  the  Moon,  Andes,  Alps,  Him- 
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Vesuvius,  Etna,  Grottos,  Caves,  and  Subter- 
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Gold,  Silver,  Load,  Copper,  Iron,  and  Coal 
Mines. 

Maelstrom,  Burning  Springs,  Earthquakes, 
Sandfloods,  Avalanches,  and  Freshets. 

Ruins  of  ancient  cities,  the  Herculancum,  Al- 
hambra,  etc. 

Curiosities  respecting  tho  various  customs  of 
mankind,  Cannibalism,  Fomalo  Beauty,  Mar- 
riage Ceremonies,  Feasting,  Fasting,  Pray, 


i^EJTS- 


LEARY  &  GETZ,  Publishers, 

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THE 


LIFE  AND  SP 


OF 


HENRY  CLAY, 


WITH   A 


AND   A 


View  of  the  Birth-Place  of  Mr. 

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The  Biography  of  this  most  distinguished  and  honored  Statesman  is  eminently 
fraught  with  encouragement  and  hope  for  aspiring  youth — especially  for  those 
who  enter  upon  the  stage  of  active  life,  unportioned  and  unheralded  by  the  partial 
voice  of  powerful  friends  and  kindred.  Henry  Clay  was  one  of  the  many  among 
our  eminent  men  who,  besides  the  disadvantages  of  poverty  and  obscurity,  were 
fated  to  encounter  that  of  early  orphanage.  Yet  his  subsequent  career  empha- 
tically teaches  that  no  one  who  is  conscious  of  possessing  the  requisite  qualities 
need  ever  apprehend  that  humility  of  origin  or  obscurity  of  position  will  deprive 
him  of  opportunities  to  serve  and  honor  his  country.  The  work  here  presented 
is  intended  to  trace  clearly  the  career  of  Mr.  Clay,  from  his  entrance  on  the  stage 
of  public  life  down  to  the  period  of  his  death — mainly  by  the  right  of  his  own 
lofty,  persuasive,  and  impassioned  eloquence.  Mr.  Clay's  parliamentary  efforts, 
clear,  direct,  and  vigorous,  embody  all  the  illustration  that  is  needful  to  their  full 
understanding — the  great  importance,  variety,  and  indestructible  interest  of  the 
topics  he  generally  discussed — the  character  and  ability  of  the  orator,  the  direct 
and  exact  bearing  of  his  arguments  on  the  controversies  and  interests  of  the 
times— all  combine  to  render  his  speeches  among  the  most  valuable  contributions 
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UEARY   &    GETZ,  Publishers,       i 

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WHITEFIELD'S   LIFE   AND   SERMONS. 

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THE  LIFE 

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SERMONS 

OP 

REV.  GEORGE  WHITEFIELD. 

BY   JOHN   GILLIES,   D.D. 

REVISED   AND   CORRECTED   WITH   LARGE   ADDITIONS   AND  IM- 
PROVEMENTS.     WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION. 

BY  PROFESSOR  C.  E.  STOWE. 


And  they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament; 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars,  for  ever  and  ever. 

Dan.  xii.  3. 


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Rev.  Dr.  Edwards  says :  "  The  ardent  love  he  bore  to  the 
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beyond  the  bounds  of  sober  reason.  He  was  content  to  be  a 
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honored ;  to  be  nothing  that  Jesus  might  be  all  in  all." 

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Frost's  Life  of  Washington. 


OF 


GEORGE    WASHINGTON: 

EMBRACING  A  COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF 

The  Seven  Years'  War;  the  Formation  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  and  the  Adminis- 
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BY    J.    FROST,    IL®, 

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Whoever  has  occasion  to  examine  carefully  into  the  history  of  the  period 
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illustrious  man  always  increasing.  The  more  intimately  one  becomes  ac- 
quainted with  the  facts,  the  more  firmly  he  becomes  convinced  that  Washing- 
ton was,  throughout  the  whole  forming  period  of  the  Republic,  the  grand 
moving  power.  Every  thing  seems  to  have  depended  on  him.  The  leaders 
of  popular  opinion  looked  to  him  for  advice ;  the  Congress  for  direction. 
While  the  war  was  raging  he  guided  every  movement,  repressed  all  discon- 
tent, infused  the  breath  of  life  into  inert  masses,  and  created  the  means  of 
efficient  warfare.  When  the  war  was  ended,  and  a  new  form  of  government 
became  necessary,  he  guided  the  deliberations  on  which  it  was  founded. 
When  its  strength  and  efficiency  were  to  be  tested  by  experiment,  the  sove- 
reign power  was  placed  in  his  hands,  which  steered  the  new  ship  of  the  State 
through  the  most  perilous  storms,  and  conducted  her  into  the  secure  haven 
of  national  prosperity.  He  was  present  in  every  creative  movement.  The 
impress  of  his  mind  is  stamped  upon  every  great  national  institution.  Never 
did  any  great  benefactor  of  mankind  more  faithfully  earn  his  titles,  than  the 

PATHER   OP   HIS    COUNTRY— THE  FOUNDER   OP   THE   REPUBLIC. 

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LEAHY  &  GETZ,  Publishers, 

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The  best  Collection  of  Sermons  published  ! 

SERMONS 

OF 

TMAS  EVANS. 

A  NEW  TRANSLATION  FROM  THE  WELSH. 


Memoir  and  Portraiture  of  the  Author. 


BY 


REV.  JOSErH  CROSS. 


Rev.  Christmas  Evans  was  one  of  the  most  pious  and  useful 
preachers  of  his  day.  He  was  exceedingly  methodical  and  clear  in 
his  arguments — his  thoughts  never  confused  and  mingled  together. 
His  order  was  so  natural  that  it  was  very  easy  to  follow  him ;  and  his 
manner  so  impressive  that  it  was  nearly  impossible  to  forget  him. 
This  collection  of  the  Sermons  of  this  worthy  and  pious  man  breathe 
the  true  spirit  of  Christian  excellence,  and  are  well  calculated  to  make 
all  who  read  them  both  wiser  and  better.  No  family  should  be  without 
this  good  book. 

Tins  is  a  large  Octavo  volume,  printed  on  fine  paper,  with  Tivo 
Elegant  Steel  Plates,  and  bound  in  a  durable  and  handsome  style,  and 
is  sold  at  the  extremely  low  price  of 

Only  One  Dollar  and  Fifty  Gents. 

LEARY  &  GETZ,  Publishers, 

No.  138  North  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 


JFAKMERS'  BAEN-BOOKf 


BY 


CLATER,  YOUATT,  SKINNER,  AND  MILLS. 


CONTAININCJ 


THE  CAUSES,  SYMPTOMS,  AND  TREATMENT  OF  ALL  THE 
DISEASES  INCIDENT  TO 

OXEN,  SHEEP,  AND  SWINE ; 

THE  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY  OF 

NEAT    CATTLE; 

WITH  AN  ESSAY  ON  THE  USE  OF  OXEN  AND  THE  BREED  OF  SHEEP. 

STABLE  MANAGEMENT, 

TREATMENT   OF    THE 

DISEASES  OF  HORSES; 

PLAIN    AND    PBACTICAL    DIRECTIONS    IN    THE 

Choice  and  Purchase  of  Horses; 


DIRECTIONS  HOW  TO  ASCERTAIN  THE  GOOD  QUALITIES,  AND  DETECT 

THE  FAULTS  OF 

CARRIAGE,  CART,  AND  SADDLE  HORSES. 

One  large  12mo.  volume,  neatly  and  strongly  bound,  and 

Illustrated   with   Numerous   Engravings. 

And  sold  at  the  low  price  of 

ONE  DOLLAR  AND  TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS  A  COPY. 


This  is  one  of  the  most  useful  works  for  the  agriculturist  that  has  ever  been  pub- 
lished in  this  country.  On  the  score  of  self-interest  alone,  the  most  calculating,  it 
may  be  supposed,  will  not  hesitate  to  provide  himself  with  a  book,  which,  in  teaching 
him  the  important  practical  facts  contained  herein,  may  enable  him  to  save  the  life 
even  of  the  meanest  animal  on  his  estate.  The  want  of  such  a  book  would  be  an 
obvious  defect  in  every  farmer's  house ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  highest  and  most  recent 
authority.  J@"  Let  no  farmer  who  values  his  own  interest,  neglect  to  procure  a 
copy  of  it.  - 

JLEARY   &   GETZ, 

Publishers,  No.  138  North  Second  Street,  Philadelphia. 


|  THE    CHRISTIAN'S    LEGACY; 


OR, 


BIBLE    DIRECTORY. 


BY  THE  REV.  WILLIAM  JACKSON. 


TIIE  CHRISTIAN'S  LEGACY  having  gone  through  10  editions,  in  a  short  space  of  time,  the  writer  haf 
no  other  apology  to  offer  for  the  11th  edition,  than  a  belief  of  its  proving  useful  to  all  Christians  of  every 
denomination. 

A  conviction  that  a  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  above  all  other  books,  is  calculated  "to  make  one  wise  f  and 
that  an  advantage  is  given  to  the  enemy  by  not  attending  to  our  Lord's  admonition,  "  Search  Ute  Scrip- 
tures," led  to  an  attempt  to  assist  the  inquirer  in  his  "  Search  "  after  truth. 

The  design  of  the  work  is,  to  make  the  reading  and  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  more  easy  and  delight- 
ful ;  especially  to  those  who  have  but  few  helps,  little  time  for  studying,  or  are  young  in  years.  The  plan 
is  new ;  and  the  arrangement  so  simple,  that  no  one,  not  even  a  child,  need  mistake  it ;  but  may,  without 
knowing  a  word  of  the  Bible  beforehand,  find  whatever  the  Scriptures  contain  on  any  subject,  as  readily 
as  though  he  knew  the  whole  Bible  by  heart. 

It  is  a  handsome  volume  of  420  full  pages,  printed  with  good  type,  on  clear,  fine  white  paper;  is  hand- 
somely bound  and  lettered,  with  a  striking  likeness  of  the  author. 

-  The  first  310  pages  contain  as  many  subjects,  adapted  to  every  state  and  condition  of  the  Christian  in 
Life,  Death,  the  Grave,  and  beyond  the  grave,  as  far  as  the  Bible  goes  but  no  farther:  for  there  is  not  a 
sectarian  expression  to  be  found  in  the  work.    Each  Page  is  complete  of  itself. 

The  last  110  pages  contain  a  compendium  of  every  book  in  the  Bible,  with  the  history  of  the  several 
writers,  Ac. ;  together  with  the  character  of  the  first  Christians — the  example — miracles — parables — and 
remarkable  discourses  of  Christ — the  prophecies  with  their  fulfillment — figurative  and  symbolical  language 
of  the  Bible,  alphabetically  arranged,  with  the  import  of  each  word — a  description  of  the  Jewish  offerings ; 
and  the  different  Sects  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures— Scriptural  difficulties  accounted  for — fate  of  the 
Evangelists  and  Apostles — Hebrew  offices — a  Pronouncing  Dictionary  of  the  "  hard  names  "  in  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  4c. 

An  alphabetical  Index  is  placed  in  the  former  part  of  the  book,  and  by  consulting  which,  the  reader  may 
readily  find  an  answer  to  any  question,  that  may  be  asked  him  by  any  Bible  question-book,  or  individual  ■ 
providing,  that  it  is  a  question  that  would  benefit  any  one  to  have  answered,  is  not  Sectarian,  and  is  one 
that  the  Bible  can  answer. 

The  following  are  only  a  few  of  the  names  and  residences  of  the  Clergy,  of  various  denominations,  whi 
have  patronized  and  recommended  the  Christian's  Legacy : 

Providence,  R. I.:  Rev.  Messrs. Tucker,  Vinten,  Mackreading,  Dowling,  Taylor,  Ilall. — Newport,  R.  I . :  Rev. 
Messrs.  Watson,  Vinten,  Smith. — Pawtuckett,  R.  I. :  Rev.  Mr.  Gonsalves. — Lowell,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Messrs 
Blanchard,  Hanks,  Burnap,  Edson,  McCoy,  Sarjent,  Brewster,  Hoes,  Porter,  Woodman,  Thurstan,  Cole. 
New  Bedford,  Mass.  :  Rev. Messrs.  Knight,  Hawley,  Howes,  Dawes. — Fall  River,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Fow- 
ler, Russell,  Taylor.— Charlestown,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Mr.  Greene. — Brookline,  Mass.:  Rev. Mr.  Shailer. — Nlw- 
burtport,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Campbell,  Stemes,  Pike. — Grafton,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Mr.  Richards. — Cabotstille, 
Mass.:  Rev.  Mr.  Scott. — Taunton,  Mass. :  Rev.  Mr. Eldridge. — Miliord,  Mass. :  Rev. Messrs.  Long, Tozer. — 
Holliston,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Matlack,  Rice. — Pocasset,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Mr.  Wallen. — Rochester,  Mass.  :  Rev. 
Mr.  Clarke. — Mansfield,  Mass.:  Rev. Messrs. Culver, Latham. — Upton,  Mass.:  Rev.  Messrs.  Wood, Billiard, 
Eastman. — Dorchester,  Mass.:  Rev.  Mr.  Boyden. — E.  Cambridge,  Mass.  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson. — Haverhill,  Mass.  : 
Rev.  Mr.  Plummer. — Malden,  Mass.:  Rev.  Mr.  McLeisb. — Hartford, Conn.:  Rev.  Messrs.  Hodgson,  Eaton. — 
New  Haven,  Conn.:  Rev. Messrs. Teasdale,  Law. — Portsmouth,  N.  H. :  Rev.  Messrs.  Davis,  Harris. — Dover, 
N.  II.:  Rev. Sir.  Mason. — Brooklyn,  N.  Y. :  Rev.  Messrs.  Youngs,  Burnett. — Williamsburg,  L.  I.:  Rev.  Mr. 
Roberts. — Newark,  N.  J.:  Rev.  Messrs.  Whittaker,  Lenhart. — Elizabethtown,  N.J. :  Rev.  Messrs.  Magie, 
Greene. — Boston,  Mass.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Meyrell,  Russell,  Kartoll,  Winslow,  Phelps,  Kirk,  Pierce,  Huested, 
Clarke,  Sharpe,  Raymond,  Read,  Motte,  Sarjent,  Pierpont,  Parkbam,  Barrett,  Gannett,  Gray,  Robbins. — New 
York  .  Rev.  Messrs.  Bond,  Levings,  Hangs,  Stocking,  Nichols,  Cheney,  Bangs,  Seney,  Withey,  Martyn,  Ja- 
cobs.— Philadelphia,  Pa.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  Burrows,  Lincoln,  Suddards,  McKnight,  Onins,  Cooper,  Stockton, 
Keller,  Ewell.White. — Lancaster,  Pa.  :  Rev.  Mr.  Gerry.— Reading,  Pa.  :  Rev.  Mr.  Schoch. — Columbia,  Pa.  : 
Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey. 


Published  by  LEARY    & 
delphia.    Price  only  $1.25. 


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SIMM'S   LIFE   OF   GENERAL   GREENE, 

THE    LIFE 

OF 

NATHANAEL  GREENE, 

MAJOR-GENERAL  IN  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  REVOLUTION. 

BY   W.   GILMORE    SIMMS, 
Author  of  "LIFE  OF  MARION,"  "CAPT.  JOHN  SMITH,"  etc.,  etc 

This  work  is  compiled  from  the  most  authentic  sources,  and  contains  in- 
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the  Revolutionary  Struggle.  In  one  handsome  12mo.  volume,  bound  in 
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THE  LIFE  m  ADVENTURES 

OP 

T OiW  THUM B. 

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PRICE  only  50  CENTS. 

STORIES 

OF   THE 

Wars  of  1812  and  Mexico. 

A  NEW  and  attractive  Juvenile  volume,  in  which  we 
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tory. In  one  16mo.  voL,  elegantly  Illustrated,  cloth. 
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THE 


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CONTAINING 

AUTHENTIC  ACCOUNTS 

OF 

MANY  REMARKABLE  AND  INTERESTING  EVENTS 

WHICH  HAVE  TAKEN  PLACE  IN  MODERN  TIMES. 

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THE 

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TRULY  INTERESTING  TALES. 
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them.     Illustrated  with  Cruikshank's  eight  Plates  of 

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18mo.  cloth,  277  pages.     Price  50  cents. 

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THE  WARS  OF  1812  AND   WITH   MEXICO !    TO  MATCH  THE  HEROES  _ 
OF  THE  REVOLUTION.  51 

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THE  BEST  HISTORY  OF  THESE  WARS  EVER  PUBLISHED, 

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WAR  WITH  MEXICO: 

WITH 

HISTORICAL  NARRATIVES  OF  THOSE  WARS. 

BY  CHARLES  J,  PETERSON. 

THE  MILITARY  HEROES  OF  THE  WARS  OF  1812  AND  MEXICO 

^  CONTAIN 


Complete  Histories  of  those  Wars; 

is  of  the  causes  which  gave  rise  to  them,  the;' 

CELEBRATED  BATTLES 


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with  vivid  descriptions  of  the 


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Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Paltna,  Fort  Brown,  Monterey,  Buena  Vista,  Puebla  de  Taos,  Los 

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IMPARTIAL   BIOfiRAFHIES 

Of  an  the  prominent  actors  engaged  in  these  wars,  among  which  will  be  found  William  Hull 
James  Winchester,  Zebulon  BI.  Pike,  Henry  Dearborn,  Jamks  Wilkinson,  John  Armstrong 
George  Croghan,  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  Richard  M.  Johnson,  Isaac  Shelby,  Jacob  Brown,  E. 
W.  Ripley,  James  Miller,  Nathan  Towson,  Thomas  S.  Jessup,  E.  P.  Gaines,  Peter  B.  Por- 
ter, Alexander  Macomb,  Samuel  Smith,  Andrew  Jackson,  fee.  Zachary  Taylor,  Samuel 
Ringgold,  Charles  May,  Wm.  O.Butler,  Wm.  5 .  Worth,  John  E.  Wool,  Stephen  W.Kearny 
John  C.  Fremont,  A.  W.  Doniphan,  Samuel  H.  Walkek,  Winfield  Sc#tt,  David  E.  Twiggs 
Robert  Patterson,  Persifef.  F.  Smith,  James  Shields,  James  Duhcan,  BenneT  Riley,  John 
A.  Quitman,  Joseph  Lans,  Gideon  J.  Pillow,  George  Cadwalader,  Wm.  S.  Harney,  Frank- 
lin Pierce,  Rt>GER  Jones,  &c. 

And  is  illustrated  with  the  following 

ELEGANT  LARGE  ENGRAVINGS. 

Portraits  of  Generals  Scott,  Brown,  Jackson,  Taylor,  Butler,  Worth,  Shie.ds,  Quitman,  Cadwa lader, 
and  Captain  Walker.    Battles  of  Plattsburg,  The  Thames,  New  Orleans,  Resaca  de  Ja  PaJma,  Mon- 
terey, Buena  Vista,  Cerro  Gordo,  and  Churubusco,  &c. 
And  more  than 

TWO  HUNDRED  OTHER  FINE  ENGRAVINGS, 
Comprising  Portraits  of  Generals  Pike,  Dearbcrn,  Wilkinson,  Armstrong,  Harrison,  Shelby,  Ripley, 
Miller,  Towson,  Gaines,  Porter,  Macomb,  and  Smith,  Santa  Anna,  Paredes,  Wool,  Kearny,  Twiggs, 
Patterson,  Pillow,  and  Jones.  Colonels  R.  M.  Johnson,  Croghan,  Fremont,  Cross,  May,  and  Majors 
Ringgold,  M*Cnllogh,  Sec.  All  the  important  Battles,  Views  of  Cities,  Forts,  and  every  other  object 
wort£7  of  notice. 

LEARY  &  GETZ,  Publishers, 

No.  138  North  Second  Street ,  PhUadelvhi*. 


Just  published  Complete,  in  Two  Imperial  Octavo  V 


Volumes,  of  S40  Pages  each, 

CHAMBERS'S 

OR, 

POPULAR  ENCYCLOPEDIA, 

EMBRACING   ALL  THE   BRANCHES   OF  GENERAL   KNOWLEDGE 
NECESSARY  TO    CONSTITUTE   A   WELL  INFORMED    MAN. 


"1 


Thx  Work  has  bbk»  Edited  bt  ah  accomplish-to  American  Sch»l*r,  who,  without  impairing  in 
the  slightest  degree  the  integrity  of  the  original  text,  has  added  such  notes,  and  made  such  corrections 
and  additions  as  were  necessary  to  adapt  it  to  the  wants  of  the  American  public. 

The  plan  on  which  the  work  is  formed,  was  to  select  only  the  subjects  on  which  it  is  important  that  a 
people,  who  feel  the  value  of  sound  education,  should  be  well  informed.  The  minutvz  of  biography, 
topography,  scientific  technicalities,  and  other  matters  to  which  there  may  be  only  need  for  occasional 
reference,  are  dismissed,  and  thus  what  usually  fills  the  greater  part  of  an  Encyclopaedia  is  at  once 
got  rid  of.  There  only  remains  a  series  of  articles  on  the  MOST  IMPORTANT  BRANCHES  OF 
SCIENCE,  PHYSICAL,  MATHEMATICAL,  AND  MORAL;  NATURAL  HISTORY,  POLITICAL 
HISTORY,  GEOGRAPHY,  AND  GENERAL  LITERATURE.  All  is  given  Which,  if  studied  and 
received  into  the  mind,  would  make  an  individual,  in  the  common  walks  of  life,  A  WELL  INFORMED 
MAN.  While.  With  a  few  exceptions,  only  that  is  omitted  which  is  not  needed  as  a  part  of  the  standing 
knowledge  of  any  person  whatever,  besides  those  for  whom  it  may  have  a  professional  or  local  interest. 

INFORMATION    FOR    THE    PEOPLE, 

Therefore,  is  an  ENCYCLOPAEDIA  including  such  knowledge  only  as  tends  to  improve  every  mind 
possessing  it — such  knowledge  as  expands,  liberalizes,  and  fertilizes.  The  ruling  objects  of  the  accom- 
plished authors,  the  Messrs.  Chambers,  have  been  to  give  what  may  be  expected  to  prove  the  means  of 
SELF-EDUCATION  to  the  people  generally,  whether  enjoying  the  means  of  academic  instruction 
or  not. 


AIW'ORG    THE    SUBJECTS    TREATED    ARE 


Astronomy, 

Geography, 

Geology. 

Physical  Hist'y  of  Man, 

Ancient  History — 

Egypt, 

Arabia-Petraa, 
History  of  the  Jews — 

Palestine, 
History  of  Greece  and 

Rome, 
History    of  the    Middle 

Ages, 
History  of  Great  Britain 

and  Ireland, 
Constitution  and  Resour- 
ces of  the  British  En> 

Descriptions  of— 

England, 

London, 

Scotland, 

Ireland, 

British  America, 

United  States, 

Australia, 

Van  Diemen's  Land, 

New  Zealand, 

South  America, 

West  Indies, 

East  Indies, 
China  andtheTeaTrade, 
Ocean — 

Maritime  Discovery, 


Navigation, 
The  Whale- 
Whale  Fisheries, 
Conveyance — 

Roads, 

Canals, 

Railways, 
Zoology, 
Account  of  the   Human 

Body, 
Vegetable  Physiology, 
Botany. 

Natural  Theology, 
History  of  the  Bible — 

Christianity, 
Private  Duties  of  Life 
Public  and  Social  Duties 

of  Life, 
Life   and   Maxims   of 

Franklin, 
Preservation  of  Health, 
Commerce — 

Money, 

Banks, 
History  and   Nature   of 

Laws. 
Political  Economy, 
Population, 
Poor-Laws, 
Life  Assurance, 
Mohammedan    and   Pa- 
gan Religions, 
Superstitions, 
Domestic  Economy, 


Cookery, 

Proverbs  and  Old  Say- 
ings, 

Natural  Philosophy, 

Mechanics, 

Machinery, 

Hydrostatics, 

Hydraulics, 

Pneumatics, 

Optics, 

Light, 

Acoustics, 

Chemistry, 

Chemistry  applied  to  the 
Arts 

Electricicy, 

Galvanism, 

Electro-Magnetism, 

Meteorology, 

The  Weather, 

Phrenology, 

Principles  of  Civil  Go- 
vernment, 

Language, 

English  Grammar, 

Logic, 

Education, 

Drawing  and  Perspec- 
tive, 

Arithmetic, 

Algebra, 

Geometry, 

Popular  Statistics, 

Agriculture, 


Social  Economics  of  the 
Industfious  Orders. 

Improvement  ot   Waste 
Lands, 

The  Kitchen  Garden, 

The  Flower  Garden, 

The  Fruit  Garden, 

Arboriculture, 

The  Horse, 

Cattle   and  Dairy   Hus- 
bandry, 

Sheep 

Pigs, 

Goats, 

Rabbits, 

Poultry, 

Cage  Birds. 

Bees, 

The  Dog, 

Field  Sports, 

Angling, 

Gymnastic  Exercises, 

In-door  Amusements, 

Chronology, 

Printing, 

Engraving, 

Lithography, 

Architecture, 

The  Steam  Engine, 

Mining, 

Metals, 

Coal, 

Salt,  and  a   'ariety  of 
other  subjects 


The  expense  of  preparing  this  work  has  been  very  heavy,  as.  in  addition  to  the  closely  condensed 
printed  matter,  it  has  been  necessary  to  execute  upwards  of  FIVE  HUNDRED  ENGRAVINGS,  in 
order  effectually  to  explain  and  embellish  the  various  subjects  of  scientific,  historical,  and  geographical 
information  which  the  work  embraces;  but  the   publishers  confidently  rely  on  the  intelligence  and 

Jj.  liberality  of  the  public  for  remuneration. 

Q»  This  is  one  of  the  most  useful  books  published,  of  which  100,000  copies  have  been  sold  in  England. 
Price,  elegantly  bound  in  Two  Volumes,  only  FIVE  DOLLARS. 


ngland.  0 


ILLUSTRATED 

CHRISTIAN  MARTYROLO 


BEING    AN 


AUTHENTIC  AND  GENERAL  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT 

OF    THE    PMJrCIPAL, 

PERSECUTIONS  AGAINST  THE  (1HURCH  OF  CHRIST, 

IN  DIFFERENT  PARTS  OF  THE  WORLD, 

COMPILED    FROM    THE    LATEST    SOURCES, 

BY    REV.    C.    SPARRY. 

ILLUSTRATED    WITH    24    FINE    ENGRAVINGS, 

And  handsomely  bound  in  Arabesque  gilt.      Price  $1.50.      In  red 
morocco,  full  gilt  sides  and  back,  and  gilt  edges,  $2.00. 

This  valuable  work  contains  a  History  of  the 

The  Lives  of  Doctor  JSgidio,  Doctor  Cons  tan- 
tine,  Nicholas  Burton,  and  Wm.  Gardener. 

The  Persecutions  in  Italy. 

The  Persecutions  in  Calabria. 

Individuals  Martyred  in  different  parts  of  Italy. 

The  Persecutions  of  the  Marquisate  of  Saluces. 

The  Persecutions  in  the  Valtoline. 

Persecutions  in  Bohemia. 

General  Persecutions  in  Germany. 

Persecutions  in  England  during  the  rei<*n  of 
Henry  IV. 

Hugh  Latimer,  Bishop  of  Worcester. 

Nicholas  Ridley,  Bishop  of  London. 

Thomas  Cranmer,  the  first  Protestant  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury. 

Persecutions  in  England  during  the  Reign  of 
Queen  Mary. 

Persecutions  in  Scotland  during  the  Reign  of 
Henry  VIII. 

The  Life,  Sufferings,  and  Martyrdom,  of  Geo. 
Wishart. 

Persecutions  of  Protestants  in  Ireland — The 
Irish  Massacre. 

Popish  Cruelties  in  Mexico  and  South  America. 

Judgments  of  God  on  Persecutors. 


Persecutions  in  the  first  Ages  of  the  World. 

Life  of  Jesus  Christ,  with  his  Sufferings  and 
Martyrdom. 

Lives,  Sufferings,  and  Martyrdom  of  the  Apos- 
tles. 

The  First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth.  Fifth,  Sixth, 
Seventh,  Eighth,  Ninth,  and  Tenth  Primi- 
tive Persecutions,  under  the  Roman  Em- 
perors. 

The  Persecutions  against  the  Christians  of 
Persia. 

The  Persecutions  under  the  Arian  Heretics. 

The  Persecutions  under  Julian  the  Apostate. 

The  Persecutions  of  the  Christians  by  the  Goths, 
etc. 

The  Persecutions  under  the  Arian  Vandals. 

Horrible  Massacre  in  France,  A.  D.  1572. 

The  Siege  of  Sancerre. 

Persecutions  of  the  Waldenses,  in  the  Valleys 
of  Piedmont. 

Persecutions  in  Germany  and  Lithuania. 

Persecutions  in  Poland — Destruction  of  the 
City  of  Lesna. 

Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Inquisition  in  Spain 
and  Portugal. 


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BY    CHARLES    J.    PETERSON. 


The  History  of  the  Revolution 


CONTAINS   A 


COMPLETE   HISTORY  OF   THE   WAR  OF  1776, 

And  admirably  written  BIOGBAPI1LES  of  all  the  prominent  officers  engaged  in  that 
great  struggle,  including 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON, 
JOSEPH  WARREN, 
ISRAEL  PUTNAM, 
RICHARD  MONTGOMERY. 
LORD  STIRLING, 
ETHAN  ALLEN, 
WILLIAM  MOULTRIE, 
HUGH  MERCER, 
ARTHUR  ST.  CLAIR, 
PHILIP  SCHUYLER, 
JOHN  STARK, 


HORATIO  GATES, 
BENEDICT  ARNOLD, 
JAMES  CLINTON, 
JOHN  SULLIVAN, 
HENRY  KNOX, 
BARON  STEUBEN, 
CHARLES  LEE, 
BENJAMIN  LINCOLN, 
ANTHONY   WAYNE, 
COUNT  PULASKI, 
ROBERT  KIRKWOOL, 


BARON  LE  KALB, 
MARQUIS  DE  LAFAYETTE, 
NATHANIEL  GREENE, 
OTHO  H.  WILLIAMS, 
FRANCIS  MARION, 
THOMAS  SUMTER, 
HENRY  LEE, 
DANIEL  MORGAN, 
THADDEUS  KOSCIUSKO, 
ALEX.  HAMILTON. 
AARON  BURR. 


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History  of  the  Devil, 

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the  various  turns  of  his  affairs  from  Adam  down  to  the  present  time ;  the  various 
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Wizards  and  Conjurors  ;  and  how  they  sell  their  souls  to  him,  etc.,  etc.  The  whole 
interspersed  with  many  of  the  Devil's  Adventures,  to  which  is  added  a  Description 
of  his  Dwelling,  called  Hell.  By  De  Foe,  author  of  "Rotinson  Crusoe."  One 
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Declaration  of  Independence, 
Washington's  Inaugural  Address, 
Washington's  First  Annual  Address, 
Washington's  Farewell  Address, 
Adams'  Inaugural  Address, 
Adams'  First  Annual  Address, 
Jefferson's  Inaugural  Address, 
Jefferson's  First  Annual  Message, 
Madison's  Inaugural  Address, 
Madison's  First  Annual  Message, 
Monroe's  Inaugural  Address, 
Monroe's  First  Annual  Message, 
J.  Q.  Adams'  Inaugural  Address, 
J.  Q.  Adams'  First  Annual  Message, 
Jackson's  Inaugural  Address, 
Jackson's  First  Annual  Message, 
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Van  Buren's  Inaugural  Address, 


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Van  Buren's  First  Annual  Message, 
Harrison's  Inaugural  Address, 
Tyler's  Inaugural  Address, 
Tyler's  First  Annual  Message, 
Polk's  Inaugural  Address, 
Polk's  First  Annual  Message, 
Taylor's  Inaugural  Address, 
Fillmore's  Inaugural  Address, 
Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
Amendments  to  the  Constitution, 
Constitution  of  New  York, 

"  Massachusetts, 

"  Pennsylvania, 

"  Virginia, 

**  South  Carolina, 

"  Kentucky, 

Ohio, 
'  New  Jersey. 


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A 


